LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


^Accession  £  Class          ) 


CONNECTICUT  SCHOOL  DOCUMENT 

No.  1—1900 
(WHOLE  NUMBER -175) 


LAWS 


RELATING  TO  SCHOOLS 


900 


OS  3 


MEMBERS 

OF   THE 

State  Boarfc  of  Education 
1900 


GEORGE  E.  LOUNSBURY,  GOVERNOR  . 
LYMAN  A.  MILLS,  LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR 
GEORGE  M.  CARRINGTON    . 
WILLIAM  G.  SUMMER     .... 
EDWARD  D.  ROBBINS     ... 
WILLIAM   H.    PALMER,  Jr 


Ridgefield 

Middlefield 

Winsted 

New  Haven 

Wetbersfield 

Norwich 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  BOARD 

CHARLES  D.  HINE,  Hartford 

OFFICE 

ROOM  42,  CAPITOL,  Hartford 


Ill 


NOTE 


At  the  margin  of  each  section  will  be  found  the  number  of  the 
same  section  in  the  General  Statutes,  Revision  of  1888,  or  the  Chapter  of 
Public  Acts  where  sections  enacted  since  1888  may  be  found. 

CHARLES  D.  HINE 
Secretary 


PUBLIC  ACTS  OF  1899 

The  acts  of  1899  relating  to  schools  will  be  found  in  this  compilation 
as  follows :  — 

Number  of 
section  in  this 
Chapter  Section  complilation 

14    ....  259 

19    ....  .....  18 

41    ....  21 

54   ....   1 39 

2 40 

71    ....  63 

104   ....   1 16 

2 17 

200   ....  215 

207    ....   2 260 

3  .....  261 

5 266 

217  37 


IV 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Constitution,    .......  1 

State  Board  of  Education,      . 

Normal  Schools,  .......  6 

County  Homes,    ..... 

Eyesight  Tests,     ....  8 

Instruction,  Employment,  and  Attendance  of  Children,     .            .  9 

Duties  of  Towns,         .            .            .            .            .           .            .  16 

Transfer  of  the  Obligations  and  Property  of  School  Societies  to 

Towns,      .            .            .            .            .            .            .            .  21 

High  Schools,              .......  24 

Evening  Schools,         .            .            .            .            .            .            .  26 

School  Visitors,           .......  29 

School  Districts,          .......  38 

Consolidation  of  School  Districts,      .            .            .            .            .  52 

District  Committees,   ......  61 

School  Libraries  and  Philosophical  Apparatus,        ...  63 

Teachers,          ...                        ....  65 

Support  of  Public  Schools,    ......  67 

Sanitary  Provisions  and  Ventilation,  .  .  .77 

Care  and  Reformation  of  Children,    .....  79 

Connecticut  School  for  Boys,      .....  79 

Industrial  School  for  Girls,         .            .            .            .            .  79 

Neglected  and  Dependent  Children,      ....  80 

Deaf  and  Dumb  and  Blind  Children,     .  .80 

Imbecile  Children 80 

Public  Libraries,         .            .                        .            .            .            .  81 

School  District  Taxes,            ......  88 

General  Provisions,     .....  .93 

Special  Acts,    ........  100 

Ansonia,    ........  100 

Bridgeport,           .......  100 

Derby,       ........  101 

Hartford,  Northwest  District,    .....  102 

Manchester,  Ninth  District,        .....  102 

Naugatuck,          .......  103 

New  Haven,         .......  104 

New  London,        .......  106 

Norwich,  Falls  District,              .....  107 

Norwich,  Greeneville  District,    ....  108 

Orange,  Union  District,  ...  110 

Waterbury,           ....  110 


CONSTITUTION  OF  CONNECTICUT 

[ARTICLE  EIGHT] 


Of  Education 

Section  i.    The  charter  of  Yale  College,  as  modified  charter  of 
by  agreement  with  the  corporation  thereof,  in  pursuance 
of  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  in  May,  1792, 
is  hereby  confirmed. 

Sec.  2.  The  fund,  called  the  SCHOOL  FUND,  shall  re- school  fund, 
main  a  perpetual  fund,  the  interest  of  which  shall  be  in- 
violably appropriated  to  the  support  and  encouragement 
of  the  public  or  common  schools  throughout  the  State, 
and  for  the  equal  benefit  of  all  the  people  thereof.  The 
value  and  amount  of  said  fund  shall,  as  soon  as  practi- 
cable, be  ascertained  in  such  manner  as  the  General 
Assembly  may  prescribe,  published  and  recorded  in  the 
Comptroller's  office;  and  no  law  shall  ever  be  made 
authorizing  said  fund  to  be  diverted  to  any  other  use 
than  the  encouragement  and  support  of  public  or  com- 
mon schools,  among  the  several  school  societies,  as  jus- 
tice and  equity  shall  require. 


LAWS 

RELATING  TO  EDUCATION- 


State  Board  of  Education 


[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxx,  PAGE  456] 


SECTION 

1.  Quorum,  term    of    office,  appointment, 

vacancies,  secretary,  duties,  salary, 
clerks . 

2.  Duties,   powers,  teachers'  meetings,  ex- 

penses, annual  report,  etc. 

3.  Appointment  and  report  of  agent. 

4.  Enforcement   of  act  relating  to  employ- 

ment of  children  under  14;  compen- 
sation of  agents. 

5.  Teachers'  certificates. 

6.  Account  of  appropriation  for   libraries 

and  apparatus. 

7.  Expenses   and   account ;    orders    how 

signed. 

8.  Normal  School,  object  and  annual  ap- 

propriation ;  training  department. 

9.  Number  and  recommendation  of  stu- 

dents. 


SECTION 

10.  Selection  of  students. 

11.  Expenditure  of  funds ;    regulation  of 

school ;  account ;  report. 

12.  Model  primary  school. 

13.  Enumeration  of    children    in    County 

Homes. 

14.  County  commissioners   may   establish 

schools  at  County  Homes. 

15.  County  commissioners  may  employ  and 

pay  teachers;  State  Board  of  Educa- 
tion to  examine  teachers,  and  may 
appoint  acting  visitor  or  visitors. 

16.  Schools  to  be  furnished  with  blanks  and 

test  cards  for  eyesight  test  and  re- 
ports. 

17.  Eyesight  test  and  reports  to  be  made  by 

certain  persons. 


ment,  vacancies. 


1898.  ch.  eixxviL  See.  1.  There  shall  be  a  State  Board  of  Education 
Se^appoint-0  composed  of  the  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and  four 
persons  to  be  appointed  as  hereinafter  provided.  Three 
members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  at  the  meetings  of 
said  board.  The  terms  of  the  members  of  said  board,  ex- 
cept the  governor  and  lieutenant-governor,  shall  be  four 
years,1  and  the  term  of  one  member  shall  expire  on  the 
first  day  of  July  in  each  year,  the  term  of  Edward  D. 


1  The  terms  of  office  of  members  other  than  the  Governor  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor begin  on  the  first  day  of  July  following  their  appointment. — 
G.  S.,  sec.  427. 

The  members  are  paid  their  necessary  expenses. —  G.  S. ,  sec.  3706. 


3 

Robbins  of  Wethersfield  expiring  on  July  1,  1895,  the 
term  of  Anthony  Ames  of  Killingly  expiring  on  the 
first  day  of  July,  1896,  the  term  of  George  M.  Carrington 
of  Winsted  expiring  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1897,  and 
the  term  of  William  G.  Sumner  of  New  Haven  expiring 
on  the  first  day  of  July,  1898.  The  General  Assembly,  at 
each  regular  session,  shall  appoint  persons  to  fill  the 
vacancies  to  arise  before  the  next  regular  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  by  expiration  of  such  terms  of  office. 
All  such  vacancies  not  filled  by  the  General  Assembly 
and  all  vacancies  otherwise  arising  shall  be  filled  by  the 
Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor  for  the  unexpired 
term  so  left  unfilled. 

The  board  shall  appoint  a  secretary,  who  shall  undersecretary, 
its  direction  and  control  perform  such  services  in  the  ex- 
ecution of  its  duties  and  powers  as  the  board  may  pre- 
scribe,1 and  who  shall  be  paid  such  salary  as  the  board 
may  determine.      The  board  shall  have  power  to  hire 
necessary  clerks,  who  shall  assist  the  secretary  and  shall  cierks. 
perform  such  clerical  and  other  duties  as  the  board  or 
the  secretary  shall  prescribe. 

Sec.  2.     The    board  shall    have  general  supervision  o.  a.  see.  ms. 
and  control  of  the  educational  interests  of  the  State  ;  ai 

May  direct  what  books  shall  be  used  in  all  its  schools, 
but  shall  not  direct  any  book  to  be  changed  oftener  than 
once  in  five  years  ;a 

Shall  prescribe  the  form  of  registers3  to  be  kept  in 
said  schools,  and  the  form  of  blanks  and  inquiries  for  the 

1  Duties  and  powers  prescribed  by  statute  are  : 

1.  To  make  return  to  Comptroller  of  delinquent  towns  and  forfeitures, 
sec.  92. 

2.  To  draw  orders  for  library  money,  sec.  172. 

3.  To  furnish  blanks  and  registers  to  private  schools,  sec.  20. 

4.  To  sign  orders  for  State  money  drawn  from  treasury,  sec.  7. 

5.  To  inspect  certificates  of  attendance,  sec.  24,  and  registers  of  private 
schools,  sec.  20. 

6.  To  remit  forfeitures,  sec.  204. 

2  Sec.  78. 

3  Registers  of  two  sizes  are  supplied  to  public  and  private  schools, 
and  a  special  form  for  evening  schools. 

For  registers  of  private  schools,  see  sec.  20. 

For  duties  of  teachers  in  connection  with  registers,  see  sec.  176. 


returns1  to  be  made  by  the  various  school  boards  and 
committees ; 

Shall  ascertain  and  keep  informed  as  to  the  condi- 
tion and  progress  of  the  public  schools  in  the  State  ; 

Teachers'  And  shall  seek  to  improve  the  methods  and  promote 

the  efficiency  of  teaching  therein,  by  holding,  at  various 
convenient  places  in  the  State,  meetings  of  teachers  and 
school  officers,  for  the  purpose  of  instructing  in  the  best 
modes  of  administering,  governing,  and  teaching  public 
schools,  and  by  such  other  means  as  they  shall  deem  ap- 
propriate  ;  but  the  expenses  incurred  in  such  meetings 
shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  in  any 
year.2 

Annual  Report.  Said  board  shall,  on  or  before  the  Monday  after  the 
J8'  first  Wednesday  in  January  in  each  year, 8  submit  to  the 
Governor  a  report  containing  a  printed  abstract  of  said 
returns,  a  detailed  statement  of  the  doings  of  the  board, 
and  an  account  of  the  condition  of  the  public  schools,  of 
the  amount  and  quality  of  instruction  therein,  and  such 

1  Eeturns  to  be  made  to  State  Board  of  Education  are  : 

1.  Town  reports  of  school  visitors,  sec.  91. 

(a)  including  names  of  teachers  and  committees,  sec.  94. 

2.  District  reports  by  Board  of  Education,  sec.  67. 

3.  Reports  of  evening  schools,  sees.  68,  72. 

4.  Reports  of  private  schools,  sec.  20. 
5    Reports  of  eyesight  tests,  sec.  17. 

Blanks  are  supplied  for  all  above  returns  and  for  reports  of  district 
committees  to  school  visitors,  sec.  171. 

3  Other  duties  and  powers  of  the  board  are  : 

1.  To  superintend  Normal  Schools,  sees.  8-12. 

2.  To  enforce  law  relating  to  employment  of  children,  sees.  4,  22,  23. 

(a)  Shall  appoint  agents,  Sec.  4. 

3.  To  enforce  laws  relating  to  attendance,  Sees.  3,  4 ;    at    evening 
schools,  sec.  71. 

(a)  May  appoint  agents,  sec.  4. 

4.  To  keep  account  of  library  money,  sec.  6. 

5.  To  annually  appoint  a  Public  Library  Committee,  sec.  218. 

6.  To  order  sanitary  changes  in  the  schoolhouses,  sec.  210. 

7.  To  examine  teachers  for  schools  in  county  homes,   and  to  visit 
said  schools,  sec.  15. 

8.  To  relieve  towns  from  maintaining  evening  schools,  sec.  73. 

9.  To  furnish  blanks  for  eyesight  tests,  sec.  16. 

3  "  All  other  reports  now  required  to  be  made  annually  to  the  General 
Assembly  shall  hereafter  be  made  to  the  Governor  at  the  same  period  of  the 
year  as  now  required  to  be  made  to  the  General  Assembly,"  G.  S.,  sec.  376. 


other  information  as  will  apprise  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  true  condition,  progress,  and  needs  of  public  educa- 
tion ;  and  such  annual  reports  shall  be  submitted  to  said 
Assembly  at  its  regular  sessions. 

The  comptroller  shall  cause  to  be  printed  at  the  ex- 1395,  ch. 
pense  of  the  State  annually,  such  number  of  copies  of  the 
report  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  as  said  board  may 
by  vote  determine  to  be  necessary ;  provided,  that  the 
number  printed  annually  shall  not  exceed  six  thousand. 

Sec.  3.    The  board  shall  have  power  to  appoint  aft 
agent1  to  secure  the  due  observance  of  the  laws  relating 
to  the  instruction  of  children,2  and  such  agent  shall  make 
written  report  of  his  work  to  the  secretary  semi-annu-  Report. 
ally. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  State  Board  of  | 
Education  and  the  school  visitors,  boards  of  education, 
and  town  committees  of  towns,  to  enforce  sections  22  and  children- 
23  of  chapter  ii ;  and  for  that  purpose  the  State  board  of 
Education  may  appoint  agents,  under  its  supervision  and 
control,  for  terms  of  not  more  than  one  year,  who  shall 
be  paid  not  to  exceed  five  dollars  per  day  for  time  actually 
employed,  and  necessary  expenses,  and  whose  accounts  Pay  of  agents. 
shall  be  approved  by  said  board  and  audited  by  the 
Comptroller. 

The  agents  so  appointed  may  be  directed  by  saidDuties- 
board  to  enforce  the  provisions  of  the  law  requiring  the 
attendance8  of  children  in  school,   and  to  perform  any 
duties  necessary  or  proper  for  the  due  execution  of  the 
duties  and  powers  of  the  board. 

See.  5.    The  State  Board  of  Education  may,  upon 
public  examination  in  such  branches,  and  upon  such  0  s  sec  tjftt 
terms  as  it  may  prescribe,  grant  a  certificate  of  qualifi-  Teachers' 

,.  i      .  ,  , .  ,         ,    .        .,        o,.  ,  certificates  may 

cations  to  teach  in  any  public  school  m  the  State,  and  be  granted  upon 
may  revoke  the  same.     The  certificate  of  qualification ex 
issued  under  this  section  shall  be  accepted  by  boards  of 1895>  ch>  CXMT- 
school  visitors,  boards  of  education,  and  town  school 
committees  in  lieu  of  the  examination  required  by  sec- 
tion 78. 8 


1  May  inspect  certificates  of  attendance,  sec.  24,  and  registers  of  private, 
schools,  sec.  20. 

2  Chapter  ii,  page  9.  »  Sees.  54,  61,  152. 


-       Sec-  6*    The  State  Board  of  Education  shall  keep  an 
for    account  of  the  money  drawn  and  paid  out  for  school 

school  libraries 

and  apparatus,  libraries  and  philosophical  apparatus  pursuant  to  chap- 
ter xi,1  and  the  Comptroller  shall  annually  audit  such  ac- 
count. 

a  a.  sec.  go99.        seC0  7.    The  board    is    authorized  to  expend    such 

Expenses    and  ,  »  . ,  ,     . .  , 

account ;  orders  sum  as  may  be  necessary  to  perform  the  duties  and 
execute  the  powers  conferred  upon  it,  and  shall  semi- 
annually  file  with  the  Comptroller  a  certified  account  of 
all  State  moneys  received  and  expended  during  the  pre- 
ceding half  year,3  which  account  shall  be  audited  by  the 
Comptroller. 

All  orders  for  drawing  any  State  money  shall  be 
signed  by  the  secretary  and  countersigned  by  a  commit- 
tee of  the  board  duly  authorized  thereto. 


1893,  ch.  ccxv. 
Object. 


Annual  appro- 
priation. 


Training 
Department. 


NORMAL  SCHOOLS 

See.  8.  The  State  Board  of  Education  shall  maintain 
normal  schools  as  seminaries  for  training  teachers  in  the 
art  of  instructing  and  governing  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  State,  at  the  places  where  such  schools  are  legally 
established,  and  such  sum  as  the  State  Board  of  Educa- 
tion may  in  each  year  deem  necessary  for  their  support, 
not  exceeding  eighty  thousand  dollars  for  the  four  nor- 
mal schools  now  established,  shall  be  annually  paid 
therefor  from  the  treasury  of  the  State,  on  the  order  of 
said  board.  But  the  board  shall  not  expend  any  money 
for  any  normal  school  hereafter  established,  until  the 
town,  city,  or  city  school  district  in  which  said  school  is 
situated  shall  have  agreed  in  writing  with  said  board  to 
furnish,  and  shall  have  furnished  schools  in  suitable  and 
sufficient  school  buildings  in  connection  with  the  train- 
ing department  in  said  school,  the  terms  of  said  agree- 
ment to  be  satisfactory  to  said  board ;  and  every  such 
town,  city,  or  city  school  district  is  hereby  empowered 
to  make  and  execute  such  agreements. 

1  Page  63. 

5  For  fiscal  year  see  Public  Acts  of  1889,  ch.  ccxxxi.  The  fiscal  year 
for  all  departments  of  the  State  government  ends  on  the  thirtieth  day  of 
September. 


Sec.  9.  The  number  of  pupils  in  each  school  shall 
be  determined  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.  Said 8e 
board  may  make  regulations  governing  the  admission 
candidates.  To  all  pupils  admitted  to  either  normal 
school,  all  its  privileges,  including  tuition,  shall  be  gra- 
tuitous ;  no  persons,  however,  shall  be  entitled  to  these 
privileges  until  they  have  filed  with  said  board  a  written 
declaration  that  their  object  in  securing  admission  to 
such  school  is  to  become  qualified  to  teach  in  public 
schools,  and  that  they  intend  to  teach  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  State. 

Sec.  10.     The    school  visitors    in  each  town   shall  i889,ch.cixxxvi, 
annually,  upon  request,  forward  to  said  board  the  names  selection  of 

-  ,  J  '  ,  . ,     ,,  students. 

of  such  persons  as  they  can  recommend  as  suitable  per- 
sons in  age,  character,  talents,  and  attainments,  to  be 
received  as  pupils  in  said  school. 

Sec.  11.    The  State  Board  of  Education  shall  expend  ia»,ck  cimvi, 
the  funds1  provided  for  the  support  of  normal  schools.  Expenditure  of 
appoint  and  remove  their  teachers,  and  make  rules  for fu 
their  management ;    shall  file    semi-annually  with  the 
Comptroller,  to  be  audited  by  him,  a  statement  of  the  Account. 
receipts  and  expenses2  on  account  of  the  normal  schools, 
and  shall  annually  make  to  the  Governor  a  report,  forReport 
transmission  to  the  General  Assembly,  of  the  condition 
of  these  schools,  and  the  doings  of  said  board  in  connec- 
tion therewith. 

Sec.  12.     Said   board  may  establish  and  maintain  i889,ch.cixxxvi, 
model  schools  under  permanent  teachers  approved  by  it,  Modei  primary 
in  which  the  pupils  of  the  normal  schools  shall  have  an 8C 
opportunity  to  practice  modes  of  instruction  and  disci- 
pline. 

SCHOOLS   IN   COUNTY   HOMES 

Sec.  13.    The  children  legally  committed  to  county  isos,  en.  ccxxn, 
homes  shall  be  enumerated  in  the  districts  in  which  said  Enumeration  of 
county  homes  are  located,  as  provided  in  section  177,  but  county  Homes. 
the  enumerator  shall  make  a  separate  list  of  the  children 
in  the  county  home,  and  certify  said  list  to  the  school 
visitors  of  the  town  as  provided  in  section  179. 


1  Sec.  8.  2  Sec.  7. 


8 

isos,  ch.  ccxxu,  See.  14.  The  county  commissioners  may  establish 
County  com-  schools  at  the  county  homes  if  in  their  opinion  it  is  for 
SSsif8  may  the  interest  of  the  children.  In  case  the  county  commis- 
Homes,  sioners  establish  and  maintain  such  a  school  in  any 


county,  the  treasurer  of  the  town  in  which  the  school  is 
located  shall  pay  to  the  county  commissioners  from  the 
amount  paid  to  the  town  by  the  Comptroller  that  pro- 
portionate part  which  was  derived  from  the  enumeration 
of  the  children  in  the  county  home.  Said  commissioners 
shall  apply  the  sum  so  named  to  the  payment  of  the 
teacher,  and  to  no  other  purpose.  Said  schools  shall  be 
open  during  the  same  days  and  hours  and  terms  as  the 
schools  in  the  district  in  which  the  school  is  located,  and 
the  branches  taught  shall  be  those  prescribed  by  the 
proper  school  officers  for  the  schools  of  the  town. 
secVh'  °cxxii'  ^'  ^e  coun^v  commissioners  may  employ 

county  commis-  and  pay  as  teachers  of  the  schools  at  the  county  homes, 
employ  Spay  persons  found  qualified  as  provided  in  this  section,  and 
shall  provide  books  for  the  children  and  apparatus  for 
teaching.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  State  Board  of 
Education  to  examine  the  persons  employed    by  the 
county  commissioners,  and  if  the  candidates  are  found 
qualified  in  respect  of  character,  education,  and  teach- 
ing ability,  to  give  them  certificates  authorizing  them  to 
teach  in  said  schools,  and  said  board  may  revoke  such 
certificate,    and    the    county  commissioners    shall    not 
employ  any  person  who  does  not  hold  such  certificate. 
|tdu?a^icm(to0f   '^^ie  sa^  board  shall  appoint  an  acting  visitor  or  acting 
examine  teach-  visitors,  who  shall  inspect  and  examine  said  schools  at 

crs,  rn&y  appoint  A 

least  twice  in  each  term,  and  the  county  commissioners 
shall  not  pay  any  teacher  nor  maintain  said  school  unless 
said  acting  visitor  shall  certify  in  writing  that  said 
school  has  been  for  each  month  kept  in  conformity  to 
the  laws  relating  to  public  schools. 

EYESIGHT   TEST 

1899,^.104,  Sec    16<    The  gtate  boar(i  of  education  shall  prepare 

preparation  of  or  cause  to  be  prepared  suitable  test  cards  and  blanks  to 

cards  and  .  •*•       x 

wanks.  be  used  in  testing  the  eyesight  of  the  pupils  in  public 

schools,  and  shall  furnish  the  same,  together  with  all 


0 

necessary  instructions  for  their  use,  free  of  expense,  to 
every  school  in  the  state. 

See.  17.    The  superintendent,  principal,  or  teacher,  ^9^ch- civ' 
in  every  school,  sometime  during  the  fall  term  in  each  Tests  and 
year,  shall  test  the  eyesight  of  all  pupils  under  his  charge  te?m?8  ! 
according  to  the  instructions  furnished  as  above   pro- 
vided, and  shall  notify  in  writing  the  parent  or  guardian 
of  every  pupil  who  shall  be  found  to  have  any  defect  of 
vision  or  disease  of  the  eyes,  with  a  brief  statement  of 
such  defect  or  disease,  and  shall  make  written  report  of 
all  such  cases  to  the  state  board  of  education. 


CHAPTER  II 
Instruction,  Employment,  and  Attendance  of  Children 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxxi,  PAGE  458] 


SECTION 

18.  Duties  of  parents  and  guardians. 

19.  Penalty  ;  excuses  for  failure  ;  procedure. 

20.  Attendance  at  private  schools  when  suf- 

ficient ;  registers  ;  inspection  of  cer- 
tificates. 

21.  Employment  of  children  under  fourteen 

during  school  hours  ;  penalty. 

22.  Employment  of  children  under  fourteen. 

23.  Penalty ;  certificates. 

24.  Certificates  of  attendance,  when  required, 

by  whom  given  ;  are  evidence. 

25.  Penalty  for  evasion  of  provisions  of  this 

chapter. 

26.  Inspection  of  factories  by  school  visitors. 

27.  Selectmen  may  bind  out  neglected  chil- 


SECTION 

28.  Town  regulations  respecting  truant  and 

vagrant  children. 

29.  Truant  officers  ;  procedure. 

30.  Truants,  arrest  of. 

81.  Truants  may  be  committed  to  Connecti- 
cut school  for  boys,  when. 

32.  Fees  of  truant  officers. 

33.  Warrant  and  hearing. 

34.  Suspending  judgment. 

35.  Appointment  of  district  committees  or 

janitors  as  special  constables. 

36.  Vagrant  girls  may  be  committed  to  In- 

dustrial School. 

37.  Loitering  of  children  in  the  night  time 

prohibited. 


dren. 

Section  1 8.    All  parents  and  those  who  have  the  care  § 
of  children1  shall  bring  them  up  in  some  honest  and  law-  educated 
ful  employment,  and  instruct  them  or  cause  them  to  be 
instructed  in  reading,  writing,  spelling,  English  gram- 
mar, geography,  and  arithmetic.2 

And  every  parent  or  other  person  having  control 
any  child  over  seven  and  under  sixteen  years  of  age, 
shall  cause  such  child  to  attend  a  public  day  school  reg- 
ularly  during  the  hours  and  terms  while  the  public 
school  in  the  district  wherein  such  child  resides  is  in 
session,  or  while  the  school  is  in  session  where  provision 
for  the  instruction  of  such  child  is  made  according  to 

1  This  expression  is  used  as  exactly  equivalent  to  parents  or  guardians. 
59  Conn.,  493.  2  Compare  sees.  38,  41. 


10 

1899,  ch.  19.  law  by  the  board  of  school  visitors,  town  school  com- 
mittee, or  board  of  education  of  the  town  in  which  the 
child  resides;  unless  the  parent  or  person  having  control 
of  such  child  can  show  that  the  child  is  elsewhere  receiv- 
ing regularly  thorough  instruction  during  said  hours  and 
terms  in  the  studies  taught  in  the  public  schools. 

lis'ch'JSxiv  Children  over  fourteen  years  of  age  shall  not  be 
subject  to  the  requirements  of  this  section  while  lawfully 
employed  to  labor  at  home  or  elsewhere. 

1899,  ch.  19.  But  this  provision  shall  not  be  construed  as  permitting 

such  children  to  be  irregular  in  attendance  at  school 
while  they  are  enrolled  as  scholars,  or  to  exempt  any 
child  who  is  enrolled  as  a  member  of  a  school  from  any 
rule  concerning  irregularity  of  attendance  which  has 
been  enacted  or  may  be  enacted  by  the  town  school  com- 
mittee, board  of  visitors,1  or  board  of  education  having 
control  of  the  school. 

o.  s.sec.  9W8.       Sec.  19.    Each  week's  failure  on  the  part  of  any  per- 

Sffrfch.  cxiv.  son  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  preceding  sec- 
tion shall  be  a  distinct  offense,  punishable  with  a  fine 
not  exceeding  five  dollars. 

Said  penalty  shall  not  be  incurred  when  it  appears 
that  the  child  is  destitute  of  clothing  suitable  for  attend- 
ing school,  and  the  parent  or  person  having  control  of 

Excuses.  such  child  is  unable  to  provide  such  clothing,  or  its  men- 
tal or  physical  condition  is  such  as  to  render  its  instruc- 
tion inexpedient  or  impracticable. 

complaint.  All    offenses    concerning    the    same    child  shall   be 

charged  in  separate  counts,  joined  in  one  complaint. 
When  a  complaint  contains  more  than  one  count  the 
court  may  give  sentence  on  one  or  more  counts  and  sus- 
pend sentence  on  the  remaining  counts. 

procedure.  If  at  the  end  of  twelve  weeks  from  the  date  of  the 

sentence  it  shall  appear  that  the  child  concerned  has 
attended  school  regularly  during  that  time,  then  judg- 
ment on  such  remaining  counts  shall  not  be  executed. 

G.  s.  sec.  mi*.         Sec.  20.     Attendance  of  children  at  a  school  other 

Attendance  It    than  a  public  school  shall  not  be  regarded  as  compliance 

whln^uffident  with  the  provisions  of  the  laws  of  the  State  requiring 

1  Sec.  78,  note  1. 


11 

parents  and  other  persons  having  control  of  children  to 
cause  them  to  attend  school,  unless  the  teachers  or  per- 
sons having  control  of  such  school  shall  keep  a  register 
of  attendance  in  form  and  manner  prescribed  by  the  State 
Board  of  Education  for  the  public  schools,1  which  register  Register. 
shall  at  all  times  during  school  hours  be  open  to  the  in- 
spection of  the  secretary  and  agents  of  the  State  Board  of 
Education,  2  and  shall  make  such  reports  and  returns  con- 
cerning the  school  under  their  charge  to  the  secretary  of 
the  State  Board  of  Education  as  are  required  from  the 
school  visitors  concerning  the  public  schools,3  except  that 
no  report  concerning  expenses  shall  be  required  ;  and  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of 
Education  to  furnish  to  the  teachers  or  persons  having 
charge  of  any  school,  on  their  request,  such  registers  and 
blanks  for  returns  as  may  be  necessary  for  compliance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  section. 

See.  21.    Any  person  who  shall  employ  any  child  1899,  ch.  41. 

,  ,  ,   .,  Employment  of 

under  fourteen  years  of  age  during  the  hours  while  the  children  under 
school  which  such  child  should  attend  is  in  session,  and  ofUageen  5 
any  person  who  shall  authorize  or  permit  on  premises 
under  his  control  any  such  child  to  be  so  employed,  shall 
be  fined  not  more  than  twenty  dollars  for  every  week  in 
which  such  child  is  so  employed. 

Sec.  22.  No  child  under  fourteen  years  of  age  shall  o.  s.  sec.  nss. 
be  employed  in  any  mechanical,  mercantile,  or  manu-  JwiS-KlSe? 
f  acturing  establishment.  Is95,  ch.  CXvui, 

Sec.  23.    Any  person  acting  for  himself,  or  as  agent  8ec>1' 
in  any  way  whatever  of  any  mechanical,  mercantile,  or  G~  s-  6ec\  im' 
manufacturing  establishment  who  shall  employ  or  au- 
thorize or  permit  to  be  employed  in  such  establishment 
any  child,  in  violation  of  the  preceding  section,  shall  be  Penalty. 
fined  not  more  than  sixty  dollars,  and  every  week  of  such 
illegal  employment  shall  be  a  distinct  offense,  provided 
that  no  person  shall  be  punished  under  this  section  for 
the  employment  of  any  child  when  at  the  time  of  such 
employment  the  employer  shall  demand  and  thereafter 
during  such  employment  keep  on  file  the  certificate  *  of 
any  town  clerk,  or  of  the  teacher  of  the  school  where 


1  Sec.  2.  *  Sees.  3,  4.  •  Sec.  2.  4  See  sec.  24. 


12 


certificates. 


0.  s.  sec.  2106. 


Evidence. 


G.  s.  sec.  2107. 


&.  s.  sec.  ^108. 
f 


school  visitors, 


such  child  last  attended,  stating  that  such  child  is 
more  tkan  fourteen  years  of  age,  or  a  like  certificate  of 
the  parent  or  guardian  of  such  child  in  such  cases  only 
where  there  is  no  record  of  the  child's  age  in  the  office  of 
the  town  clerk,  and  such  child  has  not  attended  school  in 
this  State.  Any  parent  or  guardian  who  shall  sign  any 
certificate  that  his  child  or  ward  is  more  than  fourteen 
years  of  age  when  in  fact  such  child  or  ward  is  under 
fourteen  years  of  age  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  sixty 
dollars.1 

Sec.  24.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  parent,  or  other 
person  having  control  of  a  child  under  fourteen  years  of 
age,  to  furnish  the  employer  of  such  child  a  certificate 
signed  by  the  teacher,  school  visitor,  or  committee  of 
the  school  which  the  child  attended,  showing  that  the 
child  has  attended  school.3  The  employer  of  any  such 
child  shall  require  such  certificate,  shall  keep  it  at  his  place 
of  business  during  the  time  the  child  is  in  his  employment, 
and  shall  show  the  same  when  demanded,  during  the 
usual  business  hours,  to  any  school  visitor  of  the  town 
where  the  child  is  employed,  or  to  the  secretary  or  agent 
of  the  State  Board  of  Education.  Said  certificate  shall  be 
evidence  that  the  child  has  attended  school  as  the  law 
requires. 

See.  25.  Any  parent  or  any  person  having  control 
°^  a  child,  who,  with  intent  to  evade  the  provisions  of 
this  chapter,  shall  make  any  false  statement  3  concerning 
the  age  of  such  child,  or  the  time  such  child  has  resided 
in  the  United  States,  or  shall  instruct  such  child  to  make 
any  such  false  statement,  shall  be  fined  not  more  than 
seven  dollars,  or  be  imprisoned  not  more  than  thirty  days. 

See.  26.  The  school  visitors  in  every  town  shall,  once 
or  more  in  every  year,,  examine  into  the  situation  of  the 
children  employed  in  all  its  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, and  ascertain  whether  all  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter  are  duly  observed,  and  report  all  violations 
thereof  to  one  of  the  grand  jurors  of  the  town. 

1  For  appointment  of  agents  to  enforce  sees.  22  and  23,  see  sec.  4. 
9  The  section  2105  to  which  this  refers  was  repealed  by  Ch.  41,  Acts 
of  1899. 

1  For  enforcement  of  this  section  see  sec.  23. 


13 

See.  27.  The  selectmen,  in  every  town,  shall  inspect  o,  s.  sec. 
the  conduct  of  the  heads  of  families,  and  if  they  find  any 
who  neglect  the  education  of  the  children  under  their lected  children- 
care,  may  admonish  them  to  attend  to  their  duty;  and  if 
they  continue  negligent,  whereby  the  children  grow  rude, 
stubborn,  and  unruly,  they  shall,  with  the  advice  of  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  take  such  children  from  those  who 
have  the  charge  of  them,  and  bind  them  out  to  some 
proper  master,  or  to  some  charitable  institution  or  society 
incorporated  in  this  State  for  the  care  and  instruction  of 
such  children,1  males  till  twenty-one,  and  females  till 
eighteen  years  of  age,  that  they  may  be  properly  edu- 
cated, and  brought  up  in  some  lawful  calling. 

Sec.  28.  Each  city  and  town  may  make  regulations  e.  s.  sec.  *uo. 
concerning  habitual  truants  from  school,  and  children  Jo 
between  the  ages  of  seven  and  sixteen  years1  wandering 
about  its  streets  or  public  places,  having  no  lawful  occu- dren- 
pation,  nor  attending  school,  and  growing  up  in  igno- 
rance ;  and  such  by-laws,  also,  respecting  such  children, 
as  shall  conduce  to  their  welfare  and  to  public  order, 
imposing  suitable  penalties,  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars 
for  any  one  breach  thereof ;  but  no  such  town  by-laws 
shall  be  valid,  until  approved  by  the  superior  court  in 
any  county. 

Sec.  29.    Every  town,  and  the  mayor  and  aldermen  o.  s.  sec. tin. 
of  every  city,  having  such  by-laws,  shall  annually  appoint Tr 
three  or  more  persons,  who  alone  shall  be  authorized  to 
prosecute  for  violations  thereof.     All  warrants  issued  Procedure, 
upon  such  prosecutions  shall  be  returnable  before  any 
justice  of  the  peace,  or  judge  of  the  city  or  police  court 
of  the  town  or  city. 

Sec.  30.    The  police  in  any  city,  and  bailiffs,  consta-  &-  s.  sec.  tm. 
bles,  sheriffs,  and  deputy  sheriffs  in  their  respective  pre-  Jfruante'  ar 
cincts,  shall  arrest  all  boys  between  eight  and  sixteen 
years  of  age,  who  habitually  wander  or  loiter  about  the 
streets  or  public  places,  or  anywhere  beyond  the  proper 
control  of  their  parents  or  guardians,  during  the  usual 
school  hours  of  the  school  term ;  and  may  stop  any  boy 
under  sixteen  years  of  age  during  such  hours,  and  ascer- 

1  See  sees.  213,  214. 


14 


school 
when. 


0.  S.  sec.  tllk. 
Fees  of  truant 
officers. 


tain  whether  he  is  a  truant  from  school ;  and  if  he  be, 
shall  send  him  to  such  school. 

o.  s.  sec.  2113.  See.  31.  Any  boy  arrested  a  third  time  under  the 
be  provisions  of  the  preceding  section,  if  not  immediately 
^  returned  to  school,  shall  be  taken  before  the  judge  of  the 
criminal  or  police  court,  or  any  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
city,  borough,  or  town  where  such  arrest  is  made ;  and 
if  it  shall  appear  that  such  boy  has  no  lawful  occupation, 
or  is  not  attending  school,  or  is  growing  up  in  habits  of 
idleness  or  immorality,  or  is  an  habitual  truant,  he  may 
be  committed  to  any  institution  of  instruction  or  correc- 
tion, or  house  of  reformation  in  said  city,  borough,  or 
town,  for  not  more  than  three  years,  or,  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  selectmen,  to  the  Connecticut  School  for 
Boys.1 

See.  32.  Officers  other  than  policemen  of  cities  shall 
receive  for  making  the  arrests  required  by  the  two  pre- 
ceding sections  such  fees,  not  exceeding  the  fees  allowed 
by  law  for  making  other  arrests,  as  may  be  allowed  by 
the  selectmen  of  the  town  in  which  such  arrests  are 
made  ;  but  unless  a  warrant  was  issued  by  a  judge  of  the 
criminal  or  police  court,  or  by  a  justice  of  the  peace,  the 
officer  shall,  before  receiving  his  fees,  present  to  the 
selectmen  of  the  town  a  written  statement  showing  the 
name  of  each  boy  arrested,  the  day  on  which  the  arrest 
was  made,  and,  if  the  boy  was  returned  to  school,  the 
name  or  number  of  the  school  to  which  he  was  so  re- 
turned. 

See.  33.  In  all  cases  arising  under  the  provisions  of 
the  three  preceding  sections,  a  proper  warrant  shall  be 
issued  by  the  judge  of  the  criminal  court  of  the  city,  or 
by  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  borough  or  town,  where 
such  arrest  is  made  ;  and  the  father,  if  living,  or  if  not, 
the  mother  or  guardian  of  such  boy,  shall  be  notified,  if 
such  parent  or  guardian  can  be  found,  of  the  day  and 
time  of  hearing.  The  fees  of  the  judge  or  justice  shall 
be  two  dollars  for  such  hearing  ;  and  all  expenses  shall 
be  paid  by  the  city,  borough,  or  town  in  and  for  which 
he  exercises  such  jurisdiction. 


O.  S.  sec.  2115. 
Warrant  and 
hearing. 


Fees. 


1  Sec.  213 


15 

Sec.  34.    After  the  hearing  in  any  such  case,  such  #•  s.  sec.  sue. 
judge  or  justice  of  the  peace  may,  at  his  discretion,  in-  ?udgSentng 
definitely  suspend  the  rendition  of  judgment. 

See.  35.  The  selectmen  of  any  town  may  appoint  &•  s.  sec.  70. 
committees  of  school  districts  and  janitors  of  school  d^SJct 
buildings,  and  other  persons  on  nomination  by~the  school  £e88p°eci 
visitors  of  the  town  or  board  of  education  of  an  incorpo- 8tables- 
rated  school  district,  special  constables.  Said  constables 
shall  have  power  in  the  town  in  which  they  reside,  and 
in  adjoining  towns  when  offenders  have  escaped  thither, 
to  arrest  for  truancy  and  other  causes  named  in  section 
30,  and  for  disturbance  of  schools  and  school  meetings 
and  damage  to  school  property,1  and  to  serve  criminal 
process  in  all  such  cases. 

Sec.  36.     Upon  the  request  of  the  parent  or  guardian  Q- s-  sec.  2117. 
of  any  girl  between  eight  and  sixteen  years  of  age,  a  Sf rb?cf mmit- 
warrant  may  be  issued  for  her  arrest  in  the  same  man-  secdhooilndu8tnal 
ner  and  on  the  same  conditions  as  is  provided  in  sections 
31-34  with  respect  to  boys  ;  and  thereupon  the  same  pro- 
ceedings may  be  had  as  are  above  provided,  except  that 
said  girls  may  be  committed  to  the  Connecticut  Indus- 
trial School  for  Girls.8 

Sec.  37.     The  common  council  of  any  city  may  by  1899,  ch.  217. 
ordinance  prohibit  the  loitering,    in  the  nighttime,   of  chilren^nthe 
children  under  the  age  of  fifteen  years  on  the  streets,  prohibited. 
alleys,  or  public  places  within  its  corporate  limits,  and 
may  provide  suitable  penalty  or  fine  for  the  violation  of 
such  ordinances. 


1  Sees.  275,  279.  9Sec.  214. 


16 


each  year. 
1895,  ch.  cxix. 


CHAPTER  III 
Duties  of  Towns1 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxxn,  PAGE 


SECTION. 

38.  Number  of  weeks  of  school  each  year, 

branches  to  be  taught,  etc. 

39.  Age  of  admission  to  public  schools. 

40.  Kindergartens. 

41.  Nature  and  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks 

and  narcotics  to  be  taught  in  public 
schools. 

42.  Contents  of  text-books. 

48.    May  direct  school  visitors    to  employ 
teachers. 

44.  Instruction  in  music. 

45.  Text-books  and  supplies. 

See.  38.  Public  schools  shall  be  maintained2  for 
at  least  thirty-six  weeks  in  each  year  in  every  school 
district. 

And  no  town  shall  receive  any  money  from  the  State 
treasury  for  any  district  unless  the  school  therein  has 
been  kept  during  the  time  herein  required. 


SECTION. 

46.  School  visitors. 

47.  Mode  of  voting  for  school  officers. 

48.  Names   of   persons   elected   to  be  re- 

turned to  Secretary  of  State. 

49.  Treasurer  of  permanent  funds. 

50.  Duties  of  selectmen. 

51.  Selectmen  to  provide  schoolhouses  with 

flags. 

52.  Flag-day  exercises. 

53.  Forfeiture  by  selectmen  for  failure  to 

provide  flag. 


1  For  powers  as  to  schoolhouses,  see  sec.  141. 

2  Every  town  or  school  district,  by   legal   meeting  of   its  qualified 
voters,  may  make  appropriations  of  specific  sums  of  money  for  any  pur- 
pose authorized  by  law,  and  by  the  warnings  of  the  meetings  at  which 
the  appropriations  are  made.     G.  8.,  sec.  377. 

Whenever  any  specific  appropriations  of  money  have  been  made 
by  any  community  or  corporation  named  in  the  preceding  section,  every 
agent,  commissioner,  or  executive  officer  of  any  town  or  school  district, 
who  shall  willfully  authorize  or  contract  for  the  expenditure  of  any 
money,  or  the  creation  of  any  debt  for  any  purpose  in  excess  of  the 
amount  specifically  appropriated  for  such  purpose  by  the  community  or 
corporation  of  which  he  is  the  agent,  commissioner,  or  executive  officer, 
unless  such  expenditure  shall  be  made  or  debt  contracted  for  the  neces- 
sary repair  of  roads  or  bridges,  or  the  necessary  support  of  schools  or 
paupers,  in  cases  arising  after  the  proper  appropriation  has  been  ex- 
hausted, shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars,  or  imprisoned 
in  the  county  jail  not  exceeding  one  year,  or  both.  G.  S.,  sec.  378. 

Any  public  official  of  the  state,  or  of  any  county,  municipality,  or 
school  district  is  hereby  authorized  to  deposit  any  funds  or  moneys  in  his 
hands  belonging  to  the  state,  or  to  such  county,  municipality,  or  district, 
or  held  by  him  as  such  official  or  as  trustee,  in  and  with  any  of  the  national 
and  state  banks  and  trust  companies  in  this  state  ;  provided,  however,  that 
such  deposits  shall  only  be  made  in  his  name  as  such  official  or  trustee,  or 
in  the  name  of  the  state,  county,  municipality,  or  school  district  to  which 
the  money  belongs,  and  that  in  no  case  shall  the  deposit  by  such  official 


17 

But  no  school  need  be  maintained  in  any  district  in  when  they  need 

.  not  be  main- 

which  the  average  attendance1  of  persons  at  the  school  tamed. 
in  said  district  during  the  preceding  year,  ending  the 
thirty-first  day  of  August,2  was  less  than  eight.3 

In  said  schools,  shall  be  taught  by  teachers  found  duly 
qualified  by  the  school  visitors,  4  reading,  spelling,  writ-  Branches. 
ing,  English  grammar,  geography,  and  arithmetic,  and 
such  other  studies,  including    elementary  science  and  1897«  cn-  ci- 
training  in  manual  arts,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
board  of  school  visitors.4 

Sec.  39.    The  public  schools  of  every  town  and  dis-  ^99,^  ch.  54, 
trict  shall  be  open  to  children  over  five  years  of  age64geofadmls- 
without  discrimination  on  account  of  race  or  color,  but 
school  visitors,  town  school  committees,  and  boards  of 
education,  may,  by  vote  at  a  meeting  duly  called,  admit 
to  any  school,  children  over  four  years  of  age. 

Sec.  40.     Any  town  or  school  district  may  establish  ^'2cb-54- 
and   maintain  kindergartens   which   shall  be  open  to  Kindergartens. 
children  over  three  years  of  age. 

Sec.  41.    The  nature  of  alcoholic  drinks  and  nar-  ™\ch-  clvii' 
cotics,  and  special  instruction  as  to  their  effects  upon 


the  human  system,  in  connection  with  the  several  di-hoiic  drinks  and 

/.-,•,.  *      »        »    i  11          •  t   11  narcotics  to  be 

visions  of  the  subject  of  physiology  and  hygiene,  shall  taught  m  public 
be  included  in  the  branches  of  study  taught  in  the  com-  8C 
mon  or  public  schools,  and  shall  be  studied  and  taught 
as  other  like  required  branches,  by  the  use  of  graded 
text-books  in  the  hands  of  pupils  where  other  branches 
are  thus  studied,  and  orally  in  the  case  of  pupils  unable 
to  read,  and  by  all  pupils  in  all  schools  supported  wholly 
or  in  part  by  public  money. 


in  any  one  bank  or  trust  company  exceed  in  the  aggregate  at  any  one  time 
twenty-five  percentum  of  the  capital  and  surplus  of  such  bank  or  trust 
company;  and  provided  further,  that  whatever  interest  or  other  pecuniary 
consideration  such  bank  or  trust  company  shall  allow  for  or  upon  such 
deposit  shall  belong  to  and  accrue  to  the  benefit  of  the  state,  or  such 
county,  municipality,  or  district.  Acts  of  1899,  Chapter  213. 

1  Method  of  obtaining  average  attendance  is  given  in  registers  fur- 
nished by  the  State.  2  Sec.  190. 

3  For  voluntary  union  of  small  districts,  see  sec.  196  ;  also  sec.  197. 

4  Sec.  175. 

6  A  child  need  not  be  domiciled  in  a  district  to  be  entitled  to  school 
privileges  there;  it  is  enough  if  the  child  is  residing  in  the  district  in  the 
ordinary  sense.  59  Conn.  491.  See  sections  18,  19,  177,  181. 


18 

less,  ch.  civu,         Sec.  42.    The  text-books  used  for  the  instruction  re- 
contentsof      quired  by  the  preceding  section  for  intermediate  and 
primary  pupils  shall  give  at  least  one-fifth  of  their  space 
to  the  consideration  of  the  nature  and  effects  of  alco- 
holic drinks  and  narcotics,  and  the  books  used  in  the 
highest  grade  of  graded  schools  shall  contain  at  least 
twenty  pages  of  matter  relating  to  this  subject ;  but 
when  this  subject  is  massed  wholly  or  in  part  in  a  chap- 
ter or  chapters  at  the  end  of  a  book,  such  book  shall  not 
be  considered  as  meeting  the  requirements  of  this  law. 
G.  s.  sec.  2m.        Sec.  43.    Any  town  may  direct  the  school  visitors  to 
employ  the  teachers  for  all  public  schools  of  the  town 
for  such  terms  of  the  schools  as  it  may  specify.1 
G.  s.  sec.  siss.         See.  44.    Any  town,  at  its  annual  school  meeting,  may 
musi£ctit         direct  its  school  visitors  to  employ  one  or  more  teachers 
to  give  instruction  in  the  rudiments  and  principles  of 
vocal  and  instrumental  music  in  its  several  schools,  and 
the  salary  of  such  teachers  shall  be  paid  by  such  town. 
G.  s.  sec.  tixit.         gee>  45 ^    Any  town,  at  its  annual  meeting,  may  di- 

Text-books  and  .    . 

supplies.  rect  its  school  visitors,  or  board  of  education,  or  town 
committee,  to" purchase,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  the 
text-books  and  other  school  supplies  used  in  the  public 
schools  of  said  town,  and  said  text-books  and  supplies 
shall  be  loaned  to  the  pupils  of  said  public  schools  free 
of  charge,  subject  to  such  rules  and  regulations  as  the 
school  visitors  or  the  board  of  education  or  town  com- 
mittee may  prescribe.2 

G.s.sec.ki.          See.  46.    There  shall  be  elected  by  every  town,  at 

rs'  its  annual  town  meeting,  such  number  of  school  visitors 

as  such  town  is  entitled  to  and  required  by  law  to  elect, ' 

and  they  shall  be  elected  in  the  manner  and  for  the  term 

or  terms  by  law  prescribed. 

G.s.gec.u.          See.  47.    Treasurers  of  town  deposit  funds,  agents 

Mode  of  voting       „,  ,  •*»        i  i         »     •   i  '    •    • . 

for  school        of  town  deposit  funds,     .     .     .     and  school  visitors  shall 
.  cixxxi.  be  voted  for  by  ballot;  but  all  other  town  officers  pro- 
vided for  by  law  shall  be  appointed  by  the  board  of 
selectmen  of  the  several  towns  respectively.4 

1  Sees.  78,  102,  170. 

8  For  other  provisions  as  to  text-books,  see  sees.  2,  80,  81. 
8  Sec.  75 

4  The  provisions  of  this  section  do  not  apply  to  town  high  school  com- 
mittees, ch.  clii,  Acts  of  1893. 


sec.  tm. 
08  ( 


19 

See.  48.    The  town  clerks  of  the  several  towns  shall,  issg,  ch. 
within  ten  days  after  the  election  of  such  officers,  return 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  State  the  names  of  the  persons s!CreSy°f1 
elected  to  the  offices    ...    of  school  visitors  or  school state* 
committee,  with  date  of  expiration  of  term. 

See.  49.    Every  town  holding  any  permanent  f unds  #•  s.  sec.  2125. 
received  from  any  school  society  or  district  shall  annu- 
ally elect,  by  ballot,  a  school  fund  treasurer,  who  shall fund8' 
have  charge  of  such  funds,  keep  a  separate  account  of 
the  same,  and  give  bonds  with  surety,  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  selectmen,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  his  office. 

See.  50.  The  selectmen  shall  have  the  management  #•  s. 
of  any  property  appertaining  to  schools  and  belonging 
to  the  town,  and  shall  lodge  with  the  treasurer  all  bonds, 
leases,  notes,  and  other  securities,  which  have  not  been, 
or  shall  not  be,  intrusted  to  others  by  the  grantor,  the 
General  Assembly,  or  the  town  ;  shall  pay  to  the  treas- 
urer all  money  which  they  may  collect  and  receive  for 
the  use  of  schools ;  cause  the  boundary  lines  of  school 
districts  to  be  entered  on  the  records  of  the  town  ; '  des- 
ignate the  time,  place,  and  object  of  holding  the  first 
meeting  in  any  new  district  ;a  and  perform  all  other  law- 
ful acts  required  of  them  by  the  town,  or  necessary  to 
carry  into  full  effect  the  powers  of  towns  with  regard 
to  schools.3 

See.  5 1 .    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  selectmen  to  pro- 
vide on  or  before  the  first  day  of  October,  1893,  each  selectmen 
schoolhouse,  in  which  schools  are  maintained  within pr 
their  respective  towns,    not  already  supplied,    with   a 
United  States  flag  of  silk  or  bunting,  not  less  than  four 
feet  in  length,  and  a  suitable  flag-staff,  or  other  arrange- 
ment whereby  such  flag  may  be  displayed  on  the  school- 


1  Sees.  103,  104.  «  Sec.  124. 

8  Powers  and  duties  of  selectmen  in  connection  with  : 

1.  Enforcement  of  laws  relating  to  attendance  : 

1.  Shall  inspect  families  and  bind  out  neglected  children.   Sec.  27. 

2.  Approve  commitment  of  truants  to  Connecticut  School  for 

Boys.    Sec.  31. 

3.  Allow  fees  of  truant  officers.     Sec.  32. 


20 


1893,  ch.  cciii, 
sec.  2. 
Flag-day 
exercises. 


1897,  ch.  xcix. 
Forfeiture 
by  selectmen 
for  failure  to 
provide  flag. 


house  grounds  every  school  day  when  the  weather  will 
permit,  and  on  the  inside  of  the  schoolhouses  on  other 
school  days  ;  and  to  renew  such  flag  and  apparatus  from 
time  to  time  when  necessary. 

Sec.  52.  Suitable  exercises,  having  reference  to  the 
adoption  of  the  national  flag,  shall  be  had  on  the  four- 
teenth day  of  June  in  each  year,  or  in  case  that  day  shall 
not  be  a  school  day,  then  on  the  school  day  preceding  or 
on  such  other  days  as  the  school  visitors  or  board  of 
education  may  prescribe. 

See.  53.  If  any  board  of  selectmen  shall  willfully  re- 
fuse or  neglect  to  provide  the  flag  or  apparatus  required 
by  section  51,  or  to  renew  such  flag  or  apparatus,  when 
necessary,  for  a  period  of  thirty  days  after  the  reception 
by  them  of  written  notice  signed  by  the  school  visitor,  or 
a  resident  of  the  school  district  in  which  the  said  school 
is  located,  that  said  schoolhouse  is  not  provided  with 
such  flag  or  apparatus,  or  that  such  flag  or  apparatus 
should  be  renewed,  each  of  such  board  of  selectmen  re- 
sponsible for  such  refusal  or  neglect  shall  forfeit  ten 
dollars,  one-half  to  the  party  who  shall  sue  therefor  and 
one-half  to  the  town. 


4.  Appoint  special  constables  on  nomination  of  school  visitors. 
Sec.  35. 

2.  Boundary  lines  of  districts  : 

1.  May  settle  boundary  lines.     Sec.  104. 

2.  Notice  of  appeal  how  served.     Sec.  106. 

3.  Division  of  districts  : 

1.  Shall  distribute  property.     Sec.  108. 

2.  Set  off  schoolhouse  and  award  money  in  case  of  joint  districts. 

Sec.  109. 

4.  District  meetings  : 

1.  Determine  in  certain  cases  place  of  meeting  when  there  is  no 

schoolhouse.     Sec.  115. 

2.  Give  notice  of  meeting  if  no  district  officers.     Sees.  116,  124. 

5.  Consolidated  districts  : 

1.  Shall  appraise  property  in  case  of  joint  districts.     Sec.  156. 

2.  Shall  give  notice  of  consolidation  to  adjoining  towns.     Sec.  159. 

3.  May  call  special  meetings  to  close  up  affairs  of  abolished  dis- 

tricts.    Sec.  160. 

4.  Shall  lay  tax  and  pay  debts  after  consolidation.     Sec.  161. 

5.  Shall  collect  all  dues  and  demands  in  favor  of  abolished  dis- 

tricts.    Sec.  162. 


21 


CHAPTER  IV 

Transfer  of  the  Obligations  and  Property  of  School 
Societies  to  Towns 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxxm,  PAGE  464] 


SECTION 

64.  Districts  not  co-extensive  with  towns 
organized  under  act  of  1855;  may 
choose  board  of  education  ;  powers 
and  duties. 

55.  Ballot-boxes  to  be  open  how  long. 

56.  Property  of  such  societies  not  affected. 


SECTION 

57.  Powers  and  duties  of  boards  of  educa- 

tion ;  acting  visitor ;  authority  of 
school  visitors  in  remaining  portion 
of  towns. 

58.  Apportionment  of  public  money. 


Sec.  54.    School  societies  heretofore  organized  under  o.  s.sec.  gtso. 
the  act  of  1855,  entitled  "An  Act  in  addition  to  and  m 
alteration  of  an  Act  concerning  Education,"  which  are 
not  co-extensive  with  the  towns  in  which  they  are  sit-  of  1855 
uated,  shall  be  and  remain  school  districts  of  said  towns, 
with  all  the  powers  and  duties  of  school  districts,1  as 
specified  in  this  title. 

Except  that  each  shall  annually  choose,  on  the  third 
Monday  of  September,  instead  of  a  district  committee,  a  tion 
board  of  education  consisting  of  six  or  nine  persons,  who 
shall  be  chosen  by  ballot,  one-third  to  be  chosen  each 
year,  to  serve  for  three  years  and  until  others  are  elected 
in  their  places. 


6.  Determine  amounts  to  be  paid  by  districts  to  town  on  aban- 

donment of  union  system  and  lay  tax  if  necessary.    Sec.  164. 

7.  Shall  provide  ballot-boxes  for  election  in  certain  cases.     Sec. 

143. 

6.  Estimates  :  Shall  in  joint  board  meeting  make  preliminary  estimates. 

Sec.  189. 

7.  Appropriations  :   Shall  in  joint  board  meeting  fix  amounts  for  re- 

spective districts.     Sec.  191. 

8.  1.  May  as  joint  board  appropriate  money  for  libraries.     Sec.  174. 

2.  Shall  as  joint  board  report  cost  for  preceding  year  to  town 

meeting.     Sec.  191. 

3.  Shall  in  joint  board  meeting  pass  upon  cost  of  school  in  ex- 

cess of  amount  of  appropriation.     Sec.  192. 

4.  Shall  cause  sums  due  joint  districts  to  be  paid.     Sees.  202,  203. 

5.  Shall  give  order  for  money  in  case  of  district  neglecting  to 

open  school.     Sec.  203. 

9.  Taxation.    Act  with  assessors  as  board  of  relief.     Sees.  245,  246. 


Chapter  viii,  page  38. 


22 

That  number  of  persons  sufficient  to  fill  the  board 
who  have  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  elected. 
powers  and  du-       Said  board  shall  have  all  the  powers,  and  be  subject 
bolr?. 8U<         to  all  the  duties  of  district  committees.1 

And  shall  also  have  the  general  superintendence  of 
the  public  schools  in  the  district,  and  the  management 
of  its  property. 

Shall  lodge  all  bonds,  leases,  notes,  and  other  securi- 
ties with  the  treasurer  of  said  district,  unless  the  same 
have  been  intrusted  to  others  by  the  grantors  or  the 
General  Assembly  ; 

Pay  into  the  treasury  of  the  district  all  moneys  which 
they  may  receive  for  the  support  of  schools  ; 

Determine  the  number  and  qualifications  of  the 
scholars  to  be  admitted  into  each  school ; 

Supply  the  requisite  number  of  qualified  teachers. 

Ascertain  annually,  during  the  first  two  weeks  of 
September,  the  expense  of  maintaining  the  schools  under 
their  superintendence  during  the  year  ending  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  the  previous  August,8  and  report  the  same, 
with  the  amount  of  moneys  received  towards  the  pay- 
ment thereof,  to  the  district,  at  a  meeting  to  be  held  on 
the  third  Monday  of  September  in  each  year  ; 

Shall,  at  the  same  time,  make  a  full  report  of  their 
doings  and  the  condition  of  such  schools,  and  all  im- 
portant matters  concerning  the  same  ; 

And  shall  perform  all  lawful  acts  required  of  them 
by  the  district,  or  necessary  to   carry  into  effect  the 
powers  and  duties  herein  defined. 
Reorganization        All  existing  school  societies,  in  which  school  districts 

of  other  socie- 

ties  into  dis-      have  been  or  may  be  abolished,  may  avail  themselves  of 

the  privileges  specified  in  this  section. 8 

o.  s. sec.  tisi*.        See.  55.    In  all  school  districts  in  which  boards  of 

?e  open  how to  education  are  required  by  law  to  be  elected  by  ballot, 

the  ballot-boxes  shall  be  open  for  the  reception  of  votes  : 

in  districts  having  less  than  four  hundred  voters,  three 

hours  and  not  longer  ;  in  districts  having  over  four  hun- 

1  Chapter  x,  page  61;  see  sec.  170.  2  Sec.  190. 

3  The  districts  which  availed  themselves  of  the  provisions  of  this  chap- 
ter are  city  district  of  New  Haven,  Westville  of  New  Haven,  Middletown 
City  District,  Norwich  Central,  Norwich  West  Chelsea,  Norwich  Town 
Street.  See  Union  District  of  Orange,  p.  110. 


23 

dred  and  less  than  one  thousand  voters,  five  hours  and 
not  longer  ;  and  no  box  for  the  reception  of  ballots  shall 
remain  open  later  than  half-past  eight  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  day  of  such  election. 

Sec.  56.    The  property  of  the  school  societies,  spec-  ^ -*™ -~*SL 
fied  in  section  54,  shall  not  be  affected  by  the  provisions  eucu  societies. 

not  affected. 

of  this  title. 

Sec.  57.    The  board  of  education  appointed  by  any  Q.  s.  sec.  ass. 
school  district,  organized  under  the  provisions  of  section  dS  of  "cards 
54,  shall  possess  all  the  powers  and  be  subject  to  all  theof 
duties  within   said  district  which  are  possessed  by  the 
school  visitors  in  the  several  towns. l 

Shall  make  their  annual  report  to  the  secretary  of  the 
State  Board  of  Education,  and  send  their  returns  and 
certificates  directly  to  the  Comptroller  ; 

And  may  appoint  an  acting  school  visitor  in  said  dis- 
trict, who  shall  possess,  within  said  district,  all  the  pow-86fi°o1  visitor7 
ers  and  be  subject  to  all  the  duties  of  similar  officers 
appointed  by  school  visitors.2 

The  authority  of  the  board  of  school  visitors  of  the 
town  in  which  said  district  is  situated  shall  extend  only 
to  the  remaining  portion  of  said  town  •  and  their  returns town- 
and  certificates  shall  include  only  the  children  of  such 
remaining  portion.3 

Sec.  58.    The    Comptroller,    on    application  of    the  &- s- 8ec- 91SS- 

Apportionment 

board  of  education  of  such  district,  shall  draw  an  order  of  public 
on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  such  district  for  the  pro- 
portionate amount,  to  which  such  district  may  be  en- 
titled, of  all  moneys  appropriated  by  law  for  the  benefit, 
support,  and  encouragement  of  public  schools,  as  is  pro- 
vided in  respect  to  towns  ;4  and  the  town  in  which 
said  district  is  situated  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  only 
its  proportionate  amount  of  such  public  money  for  the 
children  in  the  remaining  portion  of  said  town. 

1  Sec.  78.  2  Sec.  88. 

8  Special  mention  of  duties  is  made  as  to 

1.  Evening  schools,  sees.  72,  67.     2.  Employment  of  children,  sec.  4. 
8.  Supplementary  reading  books,  sec.  81.     4.  Free  text-books,  sec.  45. 
4  Chapter  xiii,  page  67. 


24 


CHAPTER  V 
High  Schools 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxxvin,  PAGE  482] 


SECTION 

5<».    Powers  of  towns. 

60.  High  school  committees. 

61.  Powers  of  school  visitors. 

62.  Towns  to  pay  tuition  of  children  in  high 

school. 


SECTION 

63.  State  to  reimburse  in  part. 

64.  Number  and  names  of  children  to  be 

reported. 


G.  S.  sec.  2215. 
Powers  of 
towns  in  rela- 
tion to  high 
schools. 


.  S.  sec.  2216. 


1893,  ch.  cxxviii, 
High  school 
committees. 


G.  S.  sec.  2217. 
Powers  in  rela- 
tion to  high 
schools. 


Sec.  59,  In  addition  to  the  schools  required  by  law 
in  every  town,  any  town  may  establish  and  maintain 
schools  of  a  higher  grade  within  its  limits,  and  for  such 
purpose  purchase,  receive,  hold,  and  convey  any  prop- 
erty ;  build  and  repair  schoolhouses ;  lay  taxes,  and 
make  contracts  and  adopt  regulations  for  the  manage- 
ment of  such  schools. 

Sec.  60.  Any  town  may  choose  by  ballot  at  its 
annual  town  meeting,  a  committee  of  three,  four,  or  five 
residents  of  the  town,  who  shall  have  all  such  powers 
and  duties  in  relation  to  such  schools  as  are  by  law  im- 
posed upon  district  committees  in  relation  to  district 
schools.1  If  the  number  to  be  chosen  is  three  or  four,  no 
person  shall  vote  for  more  than  two  ;  if  five,  for  not 
more  than  three.  That  number  of  persons  sufficient  to 
fill  the  committee  who  have  the  highest  number  of  votes 
shall  be  elected.  In  case  of  a  tie,  that  person  whose 
name  stands  first  or  highest  on  the  greatest  number  of 
ballots  shall  be  elected.2 

See.  61.  When  any  town  shall  maintain  any  school 
of  a  high  grade,  the  board  of  school  visitors  shall  pre- 
scribe rules  for  the  admission  of  scholars  into  it, 

And  for  their  studies,  books,  and  classification  ; 

Examine  all  candidates  for  teachers  in  such  school, 
and  give  to  those  with  whose  moral  character,  literary 
attainments,  and  ability  to  teach  they  are  satisfied  a 
certificate,  stating  what  branches  they  are  found  capa- 
ble of  teaching ; 


1  Chapter  x,  page  61. 

2  Sec.  47. 


Visit  such  schools  at  least  twice  during  each  term  ; 

May  revoke  the  certificate  of  any  teacher  at  any 
time,  for  the  causes  provided  in  section  78  ; 

And,  if  the  town  fail  to  elect  a  committee,  as  pro- 
vided in  section  60,  shall  appoint  such  committee,  whose 
powers  and  duties  shall  be  the  same  as  if  appointed  by 
the  town.1 

Sec.  62.    Any  town  in  which  a  high  school  is  not  l^\ch-  ccxlix» 
maintained  shall  pay  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  tuition  Towns  to  pay 

,   ..  ,        ,  .  ,  ..,     ,   .     '  j.         tuition  of  chil- 

f  ee  of  any  child  who  resides  with  his  parents  or  guardian  dren  in  high 
in  said  town,  and  who,   with  the  written   consent   of  8C   ols'w 
the  school  visitors  or  town  school  committee,  attends  a 
high  school  in  another  town,  provided  that  the  high 
school  shall  be  approved  by  the  state  board  of  education. 
Such  tuition  fees  shall  be  paid  annually  by  the  town 
treasurer  upon  the  order  of  the  chairman  of  the  board  of 
school  visitors  or  town  school  committee. 


See,  63.    Every  town  shall  annually  in  July  receive  ISOT,  ch. 
from  the  treasurer  of  the  state  an  amount  equal  to  two-  state  to  reim- 


thirds  of  the  aggregate  of  the  sums  which  have 
actually  paid  by  the  town  for  tuition  fees  under  the 
provisions  of  section  62 ;  provided,  that  not  more  than 
thirty  dollars  shall  be  paid  for  each  scholar  attending 
from  any  town. 

See.  64.    The  number  and  names  of  the  children 
attending  high  schools  in  towns  other  than  those  in  Number  and 
which  they  reside,  and  the  high  schools   which  they  drSeto0beCrhe-" 
have  attended,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July ported- 
in  each  year,  be  certified  under  oath  by  the  acting  school 
visitor  of  the  town  in  which  the  pupils  reside  to  the  Duty  of  Comp. 
state  board  of  education.      The   comptroller  shall,   on troller- 
application  of  said  board,  draw  an  order  on  the  treasurer 
in  favor  of  the  town  for  the  amount  provided  in  section 
63. 

1  Chapter  clii,  Acts  of  1893. 


26 


CHAPTER  VI 
Evening   Schools 


SECTION 

65.  Evening  school  s  for  those  over  14. 

66.  Supervision  of  evening  schools. 

67.  Expenses  paid  in  part  by  the  state. 

68.  Evening  schools  must  be  maintained 

how  ong. 

69.  Evening  schools  to  be   maintained  in 

larger  towns. 

70.  Supervision  of  evening  schools. 


SECTION 

71.  Children  over  14  and  under  16  who  can- 

not read  and  write  not  to  be  employed 
in  factory,  etc.,  unless  attending  even- 
ing schoo  . 

72.  Public  money  for  evening  schools. 

73.  State  Board  of  Education  may  relieve 

towns    from     supporting     evening 
schools. 

74.  Small   towns    may   establish    evening 

schools. 


G.  S.  sec,  2119. 
Evening  schools 
for  those  over 
14. 


G.  S.  sec.  2138. 
Supervision  of 
evening  schools.  Same 


G.  S.  sec.  2139. 
Expenses  paid 
in  part  by  th 
State. 


the 


G  S.  sec.  2lhO 


w  lon 


See.  65.  Every  town  may  establish  and  maintain, 
in  addition  to  the  schools  required  by  law,  public  even- 
ing schools  for  the  instruction  of  persons  over  fourteen 
years  of  age  in  the  branches  taught  in  the  public  day 
schools, l  and  such  other  studies  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
the  board  of  school  visitors  of  such  town. 

Sec.  66.  The  boards  of  school  visitors  shall  have  the 
supervision  over  public  evening  schools,2  estab- 
lished pursuant  to  this  title,  as  is  by  law  conferred  upon 
the  school  committee  of  consolidated  districts.8 

Sec.  67.  The  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  edu- 
cation, or  town  committee,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  any 
town  wherein  such  public  evening  schools  are  estab- 
lished and  maintained,  shall,  annually,  upon  the  first 
Monday  of  June,  certify  to  the  Comptroller  the  average 
number  of  scholars  attending  such  schools  within  the 
current  school  year,4  said  year  beginning  on  the  first 
day  of  September  ;  and  the  Comptroller  shall  thereupon 
draw  his  order  on  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  in  favor  of 
such  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  education,  or 
town  committee,  for  the  use  of  such  schools,  in  the  sum 
of  one  dollar  and  a  half  for  each  scholar  included  in  the 
number  so  certified,  and  the  treasurer  shall  pay  the  same 
upon  presentation. 

Sec.  68.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  boards  of  school 
visitors,  boards  of  education,5  and  town  committees  of 
towns  claiming  the  benefits  of  sections  65,  69,  73,  and  74 


'Sec.  38. 
4  Sec.  190. 


3  Sec.  65. 
5  Sees.  54,  57. 


Sec.  152. 


27 

to  maintain  such  evening  schools  for  a  continuous  term 
of  not  less  than  fifty  sessions  in  each  school  year,  as 
above  defined,  and  to  report  annually  during  the  month 
of  September  to  the  State  Board  of  Education  concern- 
ing the  condition  and  progress  of  the  same. 

Sec.  69.    Every  town  and  school  district  having  ten  ISQS,  ch.  ccx, 
thousand  or  more  inhabitants  shall  establish  and  main- Evening  schools 
tain,  in  addition  to  the  schools  required  by  law,  6veningf£iSj2ItoTOl 
schools  for  the  instruction  of   persons  over    fourteen 
years  of  age,  in  such  branches  as  the  proper  school  au- 
thorities of  the  town  or  district  shall  prescribe  ;  pro- 
vided, that  this  act  shall  not  apply  to  any  district  loca- 
ted in  a  town  which  maintains  such  schools. 

Sec.  70.    Boards  of  school  visitors,  town  school  com- 1895,  ch.  ccx, 
mittees,  or  boards  of  education,  as  the  case  may  be,  shall 6e< 
provide  rooms,  examine,  employ,  and  pay  the  teachers, 
and  shall  have  all  the  powers  and  duties  in  relation  to  the  Supervipion  of 
schools  established  under  sections  69-74,  as  by  law  belong  evening  schools. 
to  town  school  committees  in  connection  with  day  schools. 

Sec.  71.    No  person  over  fourteen  and  under  sixteen  isos,  ch.  ccx, 

_p_     O 

years  of  age,  who  cannot  read  and  write,  shall  be  em- Chi']dren  over  14 
ployed  in  any  town  where  evening  schools  are  es- ^cannot read 
tablished  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  unless  he  can 
produce  every  school  month  of  twenty  days  a  certificate  JS^ 
from  the  teacher  of  an  evening  school  established  under  evening  school. 
this  act  showing  that  he  has  attended  such  school  eigh- 
teen consecutive  evenings  in  the  current  school  month, 
and  is  a  regular  attendant.  Any  person  who  shall  em- 
ploy a  child  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall 
be  fined  not  more  than  fifty  dollars,  and  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  to  enforce  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  as  provided  in  section  4. 

Sec.  72.    The  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  edu- isos,  ch.  ccx, 
cation,  or  town  school  committee,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  Public  money 
any  town  wherein  evening  schools  are  established  and  p?hooiTmg 
maintained,  under  sections  65-74,  shall  annually,  on  the 
first  Monday  in  July,    certify   to  the  Comptroller  the 
average    number   of   scholars   attending   such    schools 
within  the  current  school  year,    and  the   Comptroller 
shall  thereupon  draw  his  order  on  the  Treasurer  of  the 
State  in  favor  of  such  board  of  education,   board  of 


28 


lecVb'  ccx' 


school  visitors,  or  town  school  committee,  for  the  use  of 
such  schools,  in  the  sum  of  two  dollars  and  a  quarter  for 
each  scholar  included  in  the  number  so  certified,  and  the 
Treasurer  shall  pay  the  same  upon  presentation. 

No  money  shall  be  paid  under  the  provisions  of  this 
section  unless  such  evening  schools  have  been  main- 
tained for  at  least  seventy-five  sessions  in  each  school 
year,  nor  until  the  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  ed- 
ucation, or  town  school  committee  has  reported  to  the 
State  Board  of  Education  concerning  the  condition  and 
progress  of  said  schools. 

^ee*  ^'  ^  any  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  ed- 
ucation, or  town  school  committee  shall  deem  it  inexpe- 
dient or  impracticable  to  establish  a  school  under  the 
provisions  of  sections  65  and  69,  and  shall,  on  or  before  the 
fifteenth  day  of  October  in  any  year,  apply  in  writing 
state  Boardof  to  the  State  Board  of  Education  to  be  relieved  from  the 
provisions  of  this  act,  and  if  said  board  shall,  upon  in- 
vestigation,  find  the  application  to  be  reasonable,  and 
shall  so  state  in  writing,  the  town  or  district  so  applying 
by  its  board  of  visitors,  board  of  education,  or  town 
school  committee,  shall  not  be  subject  to  the  provisions 
of  this  act  until  the  beginning  of  the  school  year  follow- 
ing the  date  of  the  application. 

See.  74.  Any  town  of  less  than  ten  thousand  inhab- 
itants may,  at  its  annual  town  meeting,  vote  to  establish 
evening  schools  under  the  provisions  of  sections  65,  69,  84. 


1895,^.  ccx, 


29 


CHAPTER  VII 
School  Visitors 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxxrv,  PAGE 


SECTION 

75.  Classification  and  filling  of  vacancies. 

76.  How  chosen. 

77.  Teacher  not  to  be  school  visitor  nor 

town  school  committee. 

78.  Organization,  duties,  and  powers. 

79.  Public  school  teachers  to  be  examined 

in  physiology,  etc. 

80.  Change  of  text-books. 

81.  Supplementary  reading. 

82.  Vaccination  of  school  children. 

83.  Supervision  of  evening  schools. 

84.  Expenses  of  evening  schools  paid  in 

part  by  the  State. 

86.    Evening  schools  must   be  maintained 
how  long ;  report. 

86.  Meetings. 

87.  Visitation  of  schools  ;  report  to  town. 

88.  Acting  school  visitor  or  superintendent, 

appointment  of. 


SECTION 

89.  Town   to   provide    text-books     when 

parents  are  unable. 

90.  Returns  to  Comptroller ;  certificate  to 

selectmen. 

91.  Duties  of  secretary;  forfeiture  for  fail- 

ure to  make  returns. 

92.  Secretary  of  State  board  to  report  for- 

feitures. 

93.  Report  as  to  compliance  with  law  as  to 

study  of  physiology  and  hygiene  to  be 
made. 

94.  Address   of    district    committees   and 

teachers  to  be  sent  to  State  board. 

95.  Preservation  of  books  and  records. 

96.  Compensation  of  secretary  and  acting 

visitors. 

97.  Compensation  of  acting  school  visitor. 

98.  Reports  and  returns,  how  sworn  to. 


See.  75.    There  shall  be  in  every  town1  a  board  of  a.  s.  sec.  mi. 
school  visitors,  composed  of  three,  six,  or  nine  members, classe8- 
as  such  town  may  determine,2  divided  into  three  equal 
classes;  the  first  class  shall  hold  office  until  the  next  an- 
nual town  meeting,  the  second  class  until  the  second  an- 
nual town  meeting,  and  the  third  class  until  the  third 
annual  town  meeting  following,  and  until  others  are 
elected  in  their  places;  provided,  that  when  said  board 
is  composed  of  only  three  members,  they  shall  not  be  so 
divided  into  classes,  and  shall  be  elected  for  three  years. 
Should  any  vacancy  occur,  the  remaining  members  of  J^gf1"5"*1  hovf 
the  board  may  fill  it  till  the  next  annual  town  meeting, 
when  all  vacancies  shall  be  filled  in  the  manner  pre- 
scribed in  the  succeeding  section,  and  the  ballots  shall 
distinctly  specify  the  vacancy  to  be  filled. 

Sec.  76.    School  visitors  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot. 8  0. s.  sec.  am. 
If  the  number  to  be  chosen  be  two,  four,  six,  or  eight,  How  Ch086n* 

1  Sees.  46,  47. 

5  When  a  school  district  is  organized  under  the  provisions  of  chapter 
iv,  school  visitors'  authority  extends  to  remaining  portion  of  town  only, 
Sec.  57. 

3  Sec.  47. 


30 


ixvii, 


1895  ch  ixvii 
eec.a. 

act.ec 


G.s.8ec.tiss. 
Dutie8.zatlon' 


no  person  shall  vote  for  more  than  half  of  such  number. 
If  the  number  to  be  chosen  be  three,  no  person  shall 
vote  for  more  than  two;  if  five,  not  more  than  three; 
if  seven,  not  more  than  four;  if  'nine,  not  more  than  five. 
That  number  of  persons  sufficient  to  fill  the  board  who 
have  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  elected.  In 
case  of  a  tie,  that  person  whose  name  stands  first  or  high- 
est on  the  greatest  number  of  ballots  shall  be  elected. 

See.  77.  No  person  elected  to  the  office  of  school 
visitor  or  town  committee  shall  be  employed  as  teacher 
in  the  town  where  he  or  she  is  school  visitor  or  town 
committee.  If  any  school  visitor  or  town  committee 
snall  be  employed  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  this 
section,  the  office  of  school  visitor  or  town  committee 
to  which  he  was  elected  shall  become  vacant,  and  his 
successor  shall  be  appointed  under  the  provisions  of 
section  75. 

See.  78.  Each  board  of  school  visitors  shall  an- 
nually  choose  from  themselves  a  chairman  and  a  secre- 
tary. 

They  shall  prescribe  rules1  for  the  management,  stud- 
ies,2 classification,  and  discipline  of  the  public  schools. 

And  subject  to  the  control  of  the  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, the  text-books  to  be  used;3 
Examination  of       Shall,  as  a  board,  or  by  a  committee  by  them  ap- 

teachers.  _,  J  * 

pointed,  examine  all  persons  desiring  to  teach  in  the 
public  schools;  and  give  to  those  with  whose  moral 
character  and  ability  to  teach  they  are  satisfied,  if  found 
qualified  to  teach  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  and  gram- 
mar thoroughly,  and  the  rudiments  of  geography  and 
history,  and  of  drawing,  if  required  by  the  board,  a  cer- 
tificate,4  either  authorizing  the  holder  to  teach  in  any 

1  That  rules  as  to  attendance  can  be  made  is  implied  in  sec.  18.     Rules 
need  not  be  recorded.     105  Mass.,  475.     In  the  absence  of  rules  estab- 
lished by  the  school  board  or  other  proper  authority,  the  teacher  has  a 
right  to  make  all  necessary  and  proper  rules  for  the  regulation  of  the 
school.    53  Conn.,  481. 

2  Sees.  38,  44,  65.    May  prescribe  studies,  sec.  38. 

3  Sees.  2,  80,  81. 

4  Sec.  175  (a)  May  accept  certificate  of  State,  sec.  5.     (6)  Shall  exam- 
ine  high  school  teachers,  sec.  61.     (c)  Teachers  must  be  qualified  to  teach 
physiology,  sec.  79. 


31 

district  in  the  town  so  long  as  desired,  without  further 
examination,  unless  specially  ordered,  or  to  teach  in  any 
such  district  during  the  ensuing  term  only,  or  to  teach 
only  in  a  district  therein  named  during  such  term  ;  and 
if  a  person  is  examined  in  and  found  qualified  to  teach 
other  branches  besides  those  required  in  all  cases,  such  named  m  the 

-1  certificate. 

branches  shall  be  named  in  his  certificate.1 

They  shall  revoke  the  certificates  of  such  teachers 
shall  at  any  time  be  found  incompetent  to  teach  or  to  incompetent 

,,  .  .     teachers. 

manage  a  school,  or  fail  to  conform  to  the  requirements 
of  the  board. 

Shall,  if  the  town  so  direct,  employ  the  teachers  for  JirS  them  to 
all  its  public  schools,8  after  consulting  with  the  several  fS?i«e. 
district  committees. 

Shall  make  proper  rules  for  the    arrangement,  use  TO  make  rules 

JT    .        _.         .  i  i  ..  i  i  TI  .       for  libraries. 

and  safe-keeping  of  the  district  and  high  school  libraries 
provided  in  part  by  the  State,  and  approve  the  books 
selected  therefor.3 

And  shall  fill  vacancies  in  district  offices,4  fix  sites,  housJStes?1' 
and  approve  plans  for  schoolhouses.5 

And  superintend  any  high  or  graded  school,  in  the  High  schools. 
manner  specified  in  this  title.6  7 

See,  79.    No  certificate  shall  hereafter  be  granted  to  ™>4  ch-  clvii> 
any  person  to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  Connecticut  Puwic  school 

.     *  teacher  to  be 

who  has  not  passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  physi-  examined  in 

,  «.  physiology,  etc. 

ology  and  hygiene,  with  special  reference  to  the  effects 
and  nature  of  alcoholic  drinks  and  other  narcotics  upon 
the  human  system. 

Sec.  80.    No  board  of  school  visitors  or  school  com-  <*&  «*«f  Re- 


mittee shall  change  any  text-books  used  in  the  public  books- 
schools,  except  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  all  the  members 
of    the  board  or  committee,   notice  of   such  intended 
change  having  been  previously  given  at  a  meeting  of 

1  A  general  certificate,  without  limitation  of  time,  given  to  a  teacher, 
qualities  him  to  teach  in  any  district  of  the  town,  until  it  is  annulled  or  a 
re-examination  ordered.     36  Conn.,  282. 

2  Sees.  43,  102,  170.     May  employ  teachers  if  district  neglect  or  refuse, 
sec.  132. 

3  Sec.  172.          4  Sees.  61,  128.          6  Sees.  134,  135.          •  Sec.  61. 

1  Powers  and  duties  not  given  above  are  stated  in  connection  with  the 
following  : 

3 


32 

said  board  held  at    least  one  week  previous  to  such 
change. 

o.s.  we.  2136.  See.  81.  The  board  of  education  of  any  district  or 
s?ppi°emeJtary  the  board  of  school  visitors  or  town  school  committee  of 
any  town  may,  in  addition  to  the  text-books  prescribed 
according  to  the  provisions  of  section  78,  prescribe  the 
use  of  other  series  of  books  to  be  used  as  text-books  in 
reading  ;  provided,  such  additional  series  are  purchased 
by  the  district  or  town,  and  the  use  thereof  furnished 
free  to  the  scholars.1 

SeG'  82'    The  board  of  school  visitors  of  any  town 
have  authority  to  require  that  every  child  shall  be 
vaccinated  before  being  permitted  to  attend  any  public 
school  under  their  jurisdiction.     If  the  parents  or  guar- 
,  how  dians  of  any  children  are  unable  to  pay  for  vaccination 

J 


defrayed.  .  *  •       A«  u      i   -i 

when  so  required,  the  expense  of  vaccinating  such  chil- 
dren shall,  on  the  recommendation  of  said  board,  be  paid 
out  of  the  town  treasury.2 

1  Duties  as  to  free  text-books,  sec.  45. 

2  The  provisions  of  this  statute  do  not  violate  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States  nor  of  this  State,  and  are  a  reasonable  exercise  of  the  police 
power  of  the  State.     Bissell  v.  Davison,  65  Conn.,  183. 

Education  is  not  so  much  a  technical  right  possessed  by  a  child  or  his 
parents  as  a  privilege  or  advantage  granted  by  the  State  to  be  used  or 
engaged  upon  such  reasonable  terms  and  conditions  as  the  law-making 
power  within  constitutional  limits  may  see  fit  to  impose. 
See  Note  7,  p.  31. 

1.  Enforcement  of  laws  relating  to  : 

(a)  Employment  of  children.     Sec.  4. 
(&)  Attendance  and  instruction.     Sec.  26. 

1.  May  inspect  certificates  of  attendance.     Sec.  24. 

2.  May  grant  certificates  of  attendance.     Sec.  24. 

3.  May  nominate  to  selectmen  persons  to  be  appointed  special 

constables.     Sec.  35. 

2.  Normal  school  ;  shall  assist  in  selection  of  students.     Sees.  9,  10. 

3.  Returns  to  school  visitors  by  : 

(a)  District  committee  of  beginning  and  close  of  term.     Sec. 

171. 

(b)  District  committee  of  enumeration.     Sees.  171,  177. 

(c)  District  committee  of  enumeration  in  the  parts  of  joint 

districts.     Sec.  171. 

(d)  District  committee  of  receipts,  expenditures,  statistics, 

etc.     Sec.  171. 

(e)  District  clerk  of  names  of  district  officers.     Sec.  127. 


UFMVC.no  1 1 

O.          OF 

33 

Sec.  83.    The  boards  of  school  visitors  shall  have  the  G- 
same  supervision  over  public  evening  schools,1  estab- 
lished  pursuant  to  this  title,  as  is  by  law  conferred  upon 
the  school  committee  of  consolidated  districts. a 

See.  84.    The  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  edu-  G- s-  *<*•  *1S9- 

...  ,,  ,  j.  Expenses  paid 

cation,  or  town  committee,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  any  m  part  by  the 
town  wherein  such  public  evening  schools  are  estab- 
lished and  maintained,  shall,  annually,  upon  the  first 


4.  School  buildings  (a)  Inspection.     Sec.  87.    Buildings  must  be  in 

satisfactory  condition.     Sec.  133. 
(5)  Approve  sites.     Sec.  134. 

(c)  May  fix  sites  in  adjoining  towns  on  application 
of  a  district.     Sec.  135. 

5.  Enumeration  and  distribution  of  State  money  : 

(a)  Shall  make  enumeration  if  committee  fails.     Sec.  177. 

(b)  Shall  examine  returns  of  enumeration.     Sec.  181. 
(c)  Shall  lodge  returns  with  town  treasurer.     Sec.  181. 

(d)  Shall  make  returns  to  comptroller.     Sees.  90,  181. 

(e)  Shall  certify  to  Comptroller  that  schools  have  been  kept  ac- 

cording to  law.     Sec.  182. 

(/)  Shall  withhold  certificate  if  schools  have  not  been  kept  ac- 
cording to  law.     Sec.  185. 

6.  Estimates  (a)  Shall  as  a  joint  board  with  selectmen  make  prelimin- 

ary estimates,  and  notify  committees.     Sec.  189. 
(b)  Shall  as  joint  board  with  selectmen  present  estimates 
to  town  meeting.     Sec.  191. 

7.  Appropriations  (a)  Shall  as  joint  board  with  selectmen  fix  amounts 

and  notify  each  district.     Sec.  191. 
(b)  May  as  joint  board  with  selectmen  appropriate 
moneys  for  school  libraries.     Sec.  174. 

8.  Expenses  (a)  Shall  as  joint  board   with  selectmen  report  cost  for 

preceding  year  to  town  meeting.     Sec.  191. 

(b)  Shall  as  joint  board  with  selectmen  pass  upon  ex- 
pense in  addition  to  amounts  appropriated.  Sec.  192. 

(e)  Apportion  expense  of  joint  districts,  and  report  to 
selectmen  of  each  town.  Sec.  202. 

9.  Payment  of  teachers.      Shall  give  certificate    to    selectmen  that 

schools  have  been  kept  according  to  law.     Sees.  192,  193. 

10.  Consolidated  districts.      On  abandonment  of  town  system  town 

committee  remains  board  of  visitors.     Sec.  166. 

11.  Admission  of    non-resident  scholars.      May  in  connection  with 

committee  admit  such  scholars.     Sec.  140. 

12.  Union  of  small  schools.     Shall  approve  such  union.     Sec.  196. 

13.  May  make  complaint  to  board  of  health  when  sanitary  condition; 
of  schoolhouse  is  unsatisfactory.     Sec.  210. 


Sec.  65.  2  Sec.  152. 


G.  S.  sec. 


tained,howlong. 


a.  s.  sec. 

Meetings. 


1893,  ch.  xli. 
Visitation  of 
achools. 


Monday  of  June,  certify  to  the  Comptroller  the  average 
number  of  scholars  attending  such  schools  within  the 
current  school  year,1  said  year  beginning  on  the  first 
day  of  September ;  and  the  Comptroller  shall  thereupon 
draw  his  order  on  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  in  favor  of 
such  board  of  school  visitors,  board  of  education,  or 
town  committee,  for  the  use  of  such  schools,  in  the  sum 
of  one  dollar  and  a  half  for  each  scholar  included  in  the 
number  so  certified,  and  the  treasurer  shall  pay  the  same 
upon  presentation. 

See.  85.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  boards  of  school 
visitors,  boards  of  education,2  and  town  committees8  of 
towns  claiming  the  benefits  of  sections  65,  69,  73,  and 
74  to  maintain  such  evening  schools  for  a  continuous 
term  of  not  less  than  fifty  sessions  in  each  school  year, 
as  above  defined,  and  to  report  annually  during  the 
month  of  September  to  the  State  Board  of  Education 
concerning  the  condition  and  progress  of  the  same.4 

Sec.  86.  The  chairman  of  each  board  of  school  vis- 
itors, or,  in  case  of  his  absence  or  inability  to  act,  its 
secretary,  shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  board  at  least  once 
every  six  months,  and  whenever  he  deems  it  necessary, 
or  is  requested  in  writing  so  to  do  by  three  of  its  mem- 
bers. If  no  meeting  is  called  within  fourteen  days  after 
such  a  request  has  been  made,  one  may  be  called  by  any 
three  members  of  the  board,  by  giving  the  usual  written 
notice  to  the  others. 

See.  87.  The  board  shall  annually  assign  the  duty 
of  visiting  the  schools  of  the  town  to  one  or  more  of 
their  number  ;  if  one  only  is  assigned,  he  shall  be  called 
the  acting  school  visitor  or  superintendent  of  public 
schools ;  if  more  than  one,  they  shall  be  called  the  act- 
ing school  visitors,5  and  such  school  officer  or  officers 
shall  visit  such  schools  at  least  twice  during  each  term, 
once  within  four  weeks  after  the  opening,  and  again 
during  the  four  weeks  preceding  the  close,  at  which 
visit  the  schoolhouse  and  outbuildings,6  school  register,7 
and  library 8  shall  be  examined,  and  the  studies,  disci- 

1  Sec.  190.  *~Secs.  54,  57.  3  Sees.  149,  152.  *  Sec.  2. 

6  For  duties  in  connection  with  payment  of  teachers,  etc.,  sees.  192, 193. 
6  Sec.  135.  7  Sees.  2,  176.  8  Sec.  173. 


35 

pline,  mode  of  teaching,  and  general  condition  of  the 
school  investigated.  Half  a  day  shall  be  spent  in  each 
school  so  visited,  unless  otherwise  directed  by  the  board. 
They  shall,  one  week  at  least  before  the  annual  town 
meeting,  submit  to  the  board  a  full  written  report  of 
their  proceedings,  and  of  the  condition  of  the  several 
schools  during  the  year  preceding,  with  plans  and  sug- 
gestions for  their  improvement. 

Sec.  88.    Boards  of  education,1  town  committees,2  and  0- s-  *ec-  **&*• 

„,,...  .     .  ,  Appointment  of 

boards  of  school  visitors  may  appoint  a  person,  not  one  acting  school 
of  their  own  number,  to  be  acting  school  visitor  or  su-  Sffient.8111 
perintendent  of  schools,  who  shall  have  all  the  powers,  His  powers, 
perform  all  the  duties,  and  receive  the  pay  prescribed du 
by  law  for  acting  school  visitors,  and  any  town  at  its 
annual  town  meeting  may  fix  the  compensation8  of  the  compensation. 
acting  school  visitor  or  superintendent. 

Sec.  89.  Whenever  the  acting  school  visitor  shall  ISOT,  en. 
find  that  any  pupils  in  the  public  schools  are  not  sup- 
plied  with  the  text-books  prescribed  by  the  school 
visitors,  and  in  the  opinion  of  said  school  visitor  the 
parents  of  the  pupils  are  unable  to  buy  the  required 
books,  the  said  acting  visitor  shall  purchase  the  said 
books  and  shall  certify  the  cost  of  the  same  to  the  select- 
men, who  shall  draw  an  order  on  the  town  treasurer  for 
the  payment  of  the  bill. 

Sec.  90.    The  board  of  school  visitors  shall  make  re-  0.  s.  sec.  ms. 
turns,  signed  by  the  chairman   and  secretary,  of  the  coSp?roii°enhe 
number  of  persons  over  four  and  under  sixteen  years  of 
age  in  their  respective  towns  to  the  Comptroller,4 

And  shall  in  said  returns  specify  how  many  of  those 
thus  returned  attended  some  school,  public  or  private, 
within  the  previous  calendar  year,  and  how  many  did 
not  attend  any  school  within  that  year. 

They  shall  also  state  how  many  of  those  who  attended 
no  school  were  under  five  years  of  age,  how  many  were 
over  five  and  under  eight,  how  many  were  over  eight 
and  under  fourteen,  and  how  many  were  over  fourteen 
and  under  sixteen  years  of  age. 

1  Sees.  54,  57.       a  Sees.  149,  152.       8  Sees.  96,  97. 
4  Sees.  177,  181,  182. 


36 

And  the  chairman  and  secretary  shall  draw  orders  on 
him  for  the  public  money  due  the  town  as  prescribed  in 
chapter  xiii.    But  no  town  shall  receive  any  money  for 
moneyfromthe  schools,   from  the  State  treasury,  unless   the    returns 

State  unless         ,  ,  ,    , 

return  be  made,  herein  required  are  duly  made. 

certificate  to  After  the  close  of  each  term  of  school  in  any  district, 
the  school  visitors  shall  give  to  the  selectmen  a  certifi- 
cate stating  whether  each  school  has  been  kept  in  all  re- 
spects according  to  law  or  not ; 1 

joint  duties  And  shall,  in  connection  with  the  selectmen,2  perform 

with  selectmen.     ,  .11  i  ..  •  -, 

the  duties  required  by  the  provisions  of  said  chapter, 
and  make  the  apportionment  required  in  the  case  of  dis- 
tricts formed  from  parts  of  two  or  more  towns,  as  pre- 
scribed in  section  202. 

G.s.sec.m6.  See.  91.  The  secretary  of  the  board  shall  keep  a 
£cretary.tht  record  of  all  its  proceedings  and  of  those  of  the  acting 
school  visitors,  and  of  the  decisions  of  the  joint  board  of 
school  visitors  and  selectmen, 3  required  by  said  chapter, 
in  a  book  which  he  shall  provide  for  that  purpose  at  the 
expense  of  the  town; 

Shall  submit  to  the  town  at  its  annual  meeting  a 
written  report  of  the  doings  of  the  board,  with  the  report 
of  the  acting  school  visitors;4 

And  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  October,  send 
two  copies  of  said  reports  to  the  secretary  of  the  State 
Board  of  Education;,  and  shall  furnish  such  additional 
returns  and  statistics  respecting  the  schools  of  the  town 
as  said  board  may  call  for. 

Forfeiture  for  And  if  the  returns  and  statistics6  called  for  by  the 
returns  Estate  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  shall  not  be 
sent  to  him  on  or  before  said  fifteenth  day  of  October, 
then  every  town  and  every  school  district 6  required  by 
law  to  make  separate  returns,  whose  returns  and  statis- 
tics shall  be  willfully  or  negligently  delayed  till  after 
that  day,  shall  forfeit  of  the  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents 
per  child  which  is  paid  from  the  State  treasury,7  one  per 
cent,  for  the  first  week  of  such  delay,  two  per  cent,  for  a 

1  Sees.  192,  193.  2  gecs  189>  191j  193j  200. 

8  Duties  of  joint  board,  sees.  189,  191,  192,  200.  4Sec.  87. 

B  See  sec.  2,  note.  6  Sees.  57,  152.  7  Sec.  182. 


37 

delay  of  two  weeks,  three  per  cent,  for  a  delay  of  three 
weeks,  five  per  cent,  for  a  delay  of  four  weeks,  and  ten 
per  cent,  for  a  delay  exceeding  four  weeks. 

Sec.  92.    The  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Educa-  Q.s.sec.tiM. 
tion    shall  annually,   in    January,   give   to  the  Gomp-tJSebSuSfto 
troller,  in  writing,  a  list  of  the  towns  and  districts  which  K£,rt  f 
have  incurred  the  forfeiture  described  in  the  preceding 
section,  with  the  percentage  of  forfeiture  in  each  case ; 
and  the  Comptroller,    in  making    payment    of    school 
moneys  aforesaid,1  shall  deduct  the  amount  of  money 
which  each  town  or  district  shall  have  forfeited  under 
the  provisions  of  said  section.2 

Sec.  93.    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  school  visitors 
report  to  the  Comptroller  if  the  provisions  of  sections 
and  42  have  not  been  complied  with;  and  any  failure  thus  be  made 
reported,   or  otherwise  satisfactorily  proven,    shall  be 
deemed  sufficient  cause  for  withholding  the  amount  of 
school  dividend  which  such  district  or  districts  are  other- 
wise entitled  to  receive. 

Sec.  94.    The  school  visitors  of  each  town,  and  the  ^ -s.see.tu8. 
board  of  education  in  consolidated  districts, 8  shall  annu- 
ally  in  the  month  of  October  return  to  the  secretary  of 
the  State  Board  of  Education4  the  names  and  post-office %£* of  Educa 
addresses  of  district  committees,  and  also  within  four 
weeks  from  the  beginning  of  each  school  term  return 
the  name  and  post-office  address  of  each  teacher  em- 
ployed in  the  public  schools  of  such  town  or  consolidated 
district. 

Sec.  95.    All  school  officers  shall  preserve  all  books  G.S.MC. 211*9. 
and  documents  of  permanent  value,  pertaining  to  schools,  boo£rand°n 
which  come  into  their  hands  by  virtue  of  their  offices, rec( 
and  transmit  them  to  their  successors. 

Sec.  96.    The  secretary  and  other  acting  school  vis-  G.  s.  sec.  mo. 
itors  shall  be  paid  by  the  town  for  the  time  actually  em-  gSBSSSwH 
ployed  in  the  performance  of  their  duties  two  dollars  a  actin£ visitor- 
day,  each,  and  in  like  proportion  for  parts  of  days,  and 
such  further  compensation  as  their  respective  towns  may 
fix  at  an  annual  meeting. 


1  Sec.  182.  *  Remission  of  forfeitures,  sec.  204. 

3  Chapter  ix,  page  52.  4  See  note  to  sec.  2. 


38 


G.  s.sec.  mu. 


visitors. 


O.  S.  sec.  2151. 
Reports  and 
returns,  how 
eworn  to. 


See.  97.  Acting  school  visitors  shall  receive  two 
dollars  a  day  each  for  the  time  actually  employed  in  the 
performance  of  their  duties,  and  like  proportion  for 
parts  of  days,  and  such  further  compensation  as  their 
respective  towns  may  fix  at  an  annual  meeting. 

See.  98.  All  reports  and  returns  required  by  the  pro- 
visions of  this  title  to  be  made  on  oath  or  affirmation 
may  be  affirmed  or  sworn  to  before  any  school  visitor. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
School  Districts 

[GEN.  STAT.,  CHAPTER  cxxxv,  PAGE  470] 


SECTION 
99.    Committee  to  be  ex  offlcio  agent. 

100.  Formation  and  alteration  of  districts. 

101.  Division  of  districts  formed  from  parts 

of  two  or  more  towns. 

102.  Powers  of  school  districts. 

103.  Records  of  names  and  bounds. 

104.  Settlement  of  boundary  lines. 

105.  Notice  of  proposition  to  alter  school 

districts. 

106.  Appeals  to  superior  court. 

107.  Proceedings  on  appeals. 

103.    Disposition  of  school  property  on  alter- 
ation of  districts. 

109.  Division  of  real  estate. 

110.  Settlement  of  proportions  of  indebted- 

ness of  divided  school  district. 

111.  Powers  of  superior  court,  in  premises. 

112.  Associations  formed  under  Act  of  1841. 

113.  Control  of  districts  formed  from  parts 

of  two  or  more  towns. 

114.  District  meetings,  when  held  and  how 

called. 

115.  District  meetings,  where  held. 

116.  Notice  of  meetings. 

117.  Legal  voters  of  school  districts. 

118.  What   paupers   may  vote   in  district 

meetings. 

119.  Conduct  of  school  meetings,  registry 

list,  etc. 

120.  What  matters  decided  by  ballot,  poll- 

ing places,  etc. 


SECTION 

121.    Special  meetings. 

123.    Compensation  for  preparing  lists. 

123.  Choice  of  moderator;  illegal  voting  in 

district  meetings. 

124.  Officers,  qualifications,  and   appoint- 

ment. 

125.  Appointment  of  a  committee  of  three. 

126.  Majority  to  elect. 

127.  Certificate  of  election  of  officers  to  be 

forwarded  to  the  secretary  of  board 
of  school  visitors  ;  penalty. 

128.  Vacancies,  how  filled. 

129.  Duties  of  officers. 

130.  Bonds  may  be  required  from  officers. 

131.  Records  and  papers  to  be  open  to  in- 

spection ;  penalty. 

132.  Neglect  of  a  district  to  open  school. 

133.  Every  district   must  have   a   school- 

house. 

134.  Erection  of  schoolhouses. 

135.  Fixing  site. 

136.  Districts  may  take  land  for  school- 

houses. 

137.  Mode  of  taking  land. 

138.  Owners  to  be  paid  before  land  is  occu- 

pied. 

139.  Land  of  ecclesiastical  society  not  to  be 

taken. 

140.  Non-resident  scholars. 

141.  Use  of  schoolhouse  for  other  purposes. 


agent  OJ^° 


SeG'  "'     In  the  absence  of  any  special  appointment, 
committee  of  any  school  district  shall  be  the  agent 
ex  officio  of  said  district. 


39 

Sec.  1 00.  Each  town  shall  have  power  to  form,  unite,  o.  s.  sec.  2153. 
alter,  and  dissolve  school  districts  and  parts  of  school  aiteSS>nno?n 
districts  within  its  limits;1  and  any  two  or  more  towns  J 
may  form  school  districts  of  adjoining  portions  of  their  8ec-L 
respective  towns.2 

Sec.  101.    Whenever  a  school  district  is  formed  from  1397,  ch.  xxi 
parts  of  two  or  more  towns,  either  of  said  towns  shall     ision  of 
have  power  to  divide   such  district  by  annexing 
portions  lying  in  said  town  to  any  adjoining  district 
therein.3 

Sec.  102.4    Every  school  district  shall  be  a  body  cor-  G.  s.  see.  UBS. 
porate  and  shall  have  power  to  sue  and  be  sued,5  to  pur- 
chase,  receive,  hold,  and  convey  real  and  personal  prop- 
erty for  school  purposes. 

To  build,  purchase,  hire,  and  repair  schoolhouses,  and 
supply  them  with  fuel,  furniture,  and  other  appendages 
and  accommodations.6 

To  establish  schools  of  different  grades.7 

To  purchase  globes,  maps,  blackboards,  and  other 
school  apparatus.8 

Te  establish  and  maintain  a  school  library.9 


1  Procedure.     Sec.  105. 

8  A  validating  act  makes  not  only  the  first  meeting  held  under  a  de- 
fective warning  legal,  but  all  the  subsequent  proceedings  so  far  as  affected 
by  the  illegality  of  the  first  meeting.  52  Conn.,  44. 

3  Bee  sec.  100. 

4  There  is  no  authority  conferred  on  a  school  district  to  raise  money  for 
other  purposes  than  those  specified  in  Gen.  Stat.,  Sec.  2155.    60  Conn.,  230. 

6  Districts  may  sue  by  the  name  by  which  they  are  generally  known. 
13  Conn.,  234. 

Every  inhabitant  of  a  district  is  a  party  to  any  suit  brought  against  it, 
and  may  appear  and  defend,  and  is  concluded  by  the  judgment ;  and  his 
property  may  be  taken  upon  any  execution  issued  against  it.  10  Conn., 
395-397. 

6  Sees.  133,  134,  135. 

Much  must  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  a  district  in  determining  as  to 
the  character  and  cost  of  its  schoolhouses,  and  the  courts  will  not  interfere 
unless  in  a  case  where  such  discretion  has  been  manifestly  abused.  Pro- 
viding a  hall  in  the  building  separate  from  the  schoolrooms  for  district 
meetings,  lectures,  etc.,  is  not  necessarily  improper.  25  Conn.,  226,  227. 

1  School  visitors  hav»  power  to  classify.     Sec.  78. 

8  If  purchased  by  State  aid  must  be  approved  by  school  visitors.  Sec. 
173.  9  Chapter  xi,  page  63. 


40 

To  employ  teachers,1  except  for  such  time  as  the  town 
may  direct  the  school  visitors  to  employ  the  teachers. 

And  shall  pay  the  wages2  of  such  teachers  as  are  em- 
ployed by  the  district  committee  in  conformity  to  law  ; 

To  lay  taxes8  and  borrow  money  for  all  the  foregoing 
purposes ; 4 

And  to  make  all  lawful  agreements  and  regulations 
for  establishing  and  conducting  schools,  not  inconsistent 
with  the  regulations  of  the  town  having  jurisdiction  of 
the  schools  in  such  district. 6 

sue.        seCj  |03.    The  name,  number,  and  limits  of  every 
namesand        school  district  shall  be  entered  on  its  records,  and  on 

the  records  of  the  town  or  towns  to  which  it  belongs. 6 
G.s.8ec.si57.  Sec.  104.  When  the  boundary  lines  of  any  district 
are  not  clearly  settled  and  defined,  the  selectmen  of  the 
town  in  which  it  is  situated  shall  settle  and  define  the 
same ;  they  shall  also  settle  and  define  the  boundary 
lines  of  any  new  district;  and  when  said  selectmen 
cannot  agree  in  settling  and  defining  said  lines,  the 
town  to  which  said  district  belongs  may  appoint  three 
indifferent  persons  for  that  purpose,  who  shall  have 
the  same  authority  therein  as  is  herein  conferred 
upon  said  selectmen ;  and  when  parts  of  such  dis- 
tricts lie  in  two  or  more  towns,  the  selectmen  of  the 

1  Sees.  43,  78. 

Districts  have  power  to  remove  teachers  as  well  as  to  appoint  them. 
33  Conn.,  304. 

2  Sees.  192,  193. 

1  A  vote  laying  a  tax  need  not  specify  the  particular  expenses  which  it 
is  designed  to  meet  if  it  can  be  inferred  with  reasonable  certainty  that  it 
is  imposed  for  legitimate  purposes.  12  Conn.,  439.  For  method  of  levy- 
ing taxes  see  chapter  xvii,  page  88. 

4  A  district  cannot  raise  money  by  taxation  for  purposes  beyond  the 
scope  of  its  powers,  even  though  approved  by  a  majority  of  its  voters,  and 
this  section  limits  the  purposes  to  those  specified  in  it.  60  Conn. ,  234. 

6  Chapters  iii  and  vii,  pp.  16,  29.     - 

6  If  proper  officer  fails  to  make  record,  he  can  be  compelled  to  do  it  by 
writ  of  mandamus,  but  the  omission  of  it  does  not  affect  the  legal  exist- 
ence of  the  district.  52  Conn.,  44. 

In  the  absence  of  record  evidence  of  the  establishment  of  school  dis- 
trict, its  legal  character  as  such  may  be  proved  by  reputation. 

The  district  claiming  the  territory  in  question  must  show  a  definite 
Hne  bounding  it.  54  Conn.,  74. 


41 

towns  in  which  any  such  parts  is  situated,  or,  in  case  of 
disagreement,  three  indifferent  persons  appointed  by  any 
judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  on  application  of  either 
town  and  notice  to  the  other,  shall  settle  and  define  the 
boundary  lines  of  such  part. 

Sec.  105.    When  it  is  proposed  to  form,  alter,  unite,  G.S.MC. 
or  dissolve  any  school  district  or  districts,  notice1 
such  change  is  proposed  shall  be  posted  on  the  school-  8Ch°o1  districts, 
house  in  each  school  district  to  be  affected,  or  if  there  be  1895  ch  cxxx 
no  schoolhouse  in  any  of  such  school  districts,  at  the 
usual  place  for  posting  warnings  for  meetings  of  such 
districts,  and  printed  in  a  newspaper  or  newspapers  pub- 
lished in  the  town  to  which  such  districts  or  any  one  of 
them  may  belong  if  any  there  be,  and  a  copy  of  the  same 
shall  be  left  with  the  clerk  of  each  of  said  districts  at 
least  fifteen  days  before  the  town  is  called  to  act  upon 
the  proposition. 

See.  106.    When  application  shall  be  made  to  a  town  G.  s.  sec.  tm. 
to  form,  alter,  or  dissolve  a  school  district,  or  to  unite  HS?ecaour0t.Supe' 
two  or  more  school  districts,  any  district  aggrieved  by 
the  action  or  neglect  of  action  of  the  town,  in  the  prem- 
ises, may  appeal  from  such  action  or  neglect  of  action  to 
the  Superior  Court  of  the  county  in  which  such  town  is 
situated,  within  one  year  next  after  the  action  or  neg- 
lect appealed  from,  by  an  application  containing  a  brief 
statement,  that  such  an  appeal  is  taken,  by  whom,  and  Mode  of 
from  what,  signed  by  the  agent  of  the  appellant ;  to m| 
which  shall  be  annexed  a  citation  signed  by  proper  au- 
thority, notifying  the  appellees  to  appear  at  the  court  to 
which  such  appeal  is  taken  ;  and  service  thereof  shall  be 
made  by  some  proper  officer  by  leaving  a  true  and  at- 
tested copy  of  such  appeal  and  citation  with  the  town 
clerk,  or  a  selectman  of  such  town,  and  with  the  clerk,  or 
one  of  the  district  committee,  of  any  other  district  inter- 
ested,  at  least  twelve  days  before  the  session  of  the 
court.2 


1  Notice  need  not  be  signed  by  selectmen,  but  one  signed  by  one  mem- 
ber of  district  in  behalf  of  himself  and  others  sufficient.     52  Conn.,  44. 

2  54  Conn.,  50. 


42 

G.  s.  sec.  2160.  See.  107.  Said  court  shall  have  the  same  powers  to 
act  upon  said  application  that  said  town  had,  and  may 
appoint  a  committee  to  report  the  facts  and  its  opinion 
thereon  ;  and  the  final  decree  of  the  court  shall  be  re- 
corded in  the  records  of  said  town  ;  and  said  court  may 
allow  and  tax  costs  at  its  discretion,  including  fees  for 

Effect  of  decree  surveys,  copies,  and  recording  decree.  Unless  the  town 
shall  thereafter  abolish  all  the  school  districts  and  parts 
of  districts  within  its  limits,  no  alteration  of  the  lines 
fixed  by  such  decree  shall  be  made,  except  by  the 
Superior  Court  of  such  county ;  which  shall  have  orig- 
inal jurisdiction  of  any  application  for  the  purpose  made 
by  any  district  interested. 

Sec*  108'  When  any  districts  shall  be  consolidated, 
the  new  district  shall  own  all  the  property  of  the  several 
Df  districts  ;  and  when  a  district  shall  be  divided,  its  prop- 
erty, or  the  income  and  proceeds  thereof,  shall  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  several  parts,  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  persons  between  four  and  sixteen  years  of 
age  in  each ;  and  in  case  the  distribution  shall  not  be 
made  before  the  district  is  divided,  and  the  several  parts 
cannot  agree,  the  selectmen  of  the  town,  or  if  the  dis- 
trict lies  in  two  or  more  towns,  the  selectmen  of  the  sev- 
eral towns,  shall  distribute  the  same. 

o.  s.  sec.  216*.        See.  109.    When,  on  any  such  division  of  a  district, 

State0"  °f  real  i^s  only  or  principal  property  shall  consist  of  a  school- 
house  and  real  estate  connected  therewith,  which  can- 
not be  divided  between  the  several  parts  of  said  district 
without  great  inconvenience,  the  selectmen  of  the  town, 
instead  of  dividing  such  schoolhouse  and  real  estate, 
shall  set  it  all  to  one  part,  and  award  that  the  other  part 
or  parts  shall  receive,  from  the  part  to  which  it  is  set, 
such  sum  of  money  as  such  selectmen  may  deem  just  ; 
and  such  award  shall  be  binding  upon  the  several  parts 
of  said  district. 

1893,  ch.  cxxiii,  See.  110.  Whenever  any  school  district  has  been  or 
shall  hereafter  be  divided  into  two  or  more  districts,  and 

Settlement  of 

proportions  of  the  said  districts  cannot  agree  upon  the  distribution  of 

indebtedness  or  °  r 

a  divided  school  the  property  and  assets  of  said  districts,  between  the  two 
districts,  or  cannot  agree  upon  the  proportion  that  each 
district  shall  pay  of  the  debts  of  the  district  owing  at 


43 

the  time  of  the  division,  either  of  said  districts  may 
bring  its  complaint  to  the  Superior  Court  in  the  county 
in  which  said  districts  are  located,  praying  for  such  re- 
lief as  it  claims  it  is  entitled  to. 

Sec.  111.    Such  complaint  shall  state  the  facts  upon 
which  the  plaintiff  claims  relief,  and  shall  be  served  Powers  of  supe- 

......        .1  .      rior  Court  in 

upon  the  respondent  district  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  premises. 
-civil  actions,  and  said  court  may  distribute  the  property 
and  assets  between  the  districts  or  set  the  entire  prop- 
erty and  assets  to  one  district,  as  it  shall  find  for  the 
best  interests  of  the  district ;  and  in  case  the  property 
and  assets  are  set  to  one  of  said  districts,  shall  find  and 
decree  the  sum  of  money  that  such  district  so  receiving 
said  property  shall  pay  to  the  other  district ;  and  said 
court  shall  find  and  decree  the  proportion  that  each  dis- 
trict shall  pay  of  the  debts  and  liabilities  outstanding  at 
the  time  of  the  division. 

Sec.  112.    All  associations  under  the  act  of  1841,  o.  s. 
allowing  any  two  or  more  adjoining  school  districts  to 
associate  together  and  form  a  union  district,  entered Actl 
into  before  the  repeal  of  said  act,  shall  continue  to  be 
managed  and  regulated  according  to  the  provisions  of 
said  act,  unless  the  town  shall  abolish  or  consolidate  all 
the  school  districts  within  its  limits.1 

Sec.  113.    The  schools  in  every  school  district  formed  o.  s.  sec.nm. 
from  parts  of  two  or  more  towns  shall  be  under  the 
charge  and  direction  of  the  town  in  which  the  school-  J 
house  is  situated,  unless  the  towns  shall  agree  other- towM- 
wise." 

Sec.  114.    Every  school  district  shall  hold  an  annual  G.  s.  sec.  am. 
meeting  in  the  month  of  June  in  each  year,  for  the  £gs,r  whSfteid 
choice  of  officers,  and  for  the  transaction  of  any  other  and'how  called- 
business  relating  to  schools ;  and  shall  also  hold  a  spe- 
cial meeting  when  the  same  shall  be  duly  called.8 

Sec.  115.    District  meetings  shall  be  held  at  the  dis-  &.  s.sec.zm. 
trict  schoolhouse  ;  but  if  there  be  no  suitable  school-  g 
house,  the  committee,   if  there  be  one,  otherwise  the 
clerk,  and  if  there  be  no  committee  or  clerk,  the  select- 

1  Chapter  ix,  page  52. 

9  Method  of  apportioning  money,  sees.  90,  202.  3  Sees.  121,  170. 


44 

men  of  the  town  to  which  said  district  belongs  shall  de- 
termine the  place  of  meeting,  which  shall,  in  all  cases, 
be  within  the  district. 
o.s.ue.ti67.        see.  H6.    Notice  of  the  time,1  place,  and  object  of 

Notice  of  meet- 
ings, every  meeting  of  the  district  shall  be  given  at  least  five 

days  previous  to  holding  it,  including  the  day  the  no- 
tice is  given,  but  not  including  the  day  of  holding  said 
meeting.  The  committee,  or,  if  there  be  no  such  com- 
mittee, the  clerk,  or,  if  there  be  no  committee  or  clerk, 
the  selectmen  of  the  town,  shall  give  notice  of  a  district 
meeting,  either  by  publishing  the  same  in  a  newspaper 
printed  in  the  district,  or  by  posting  a  notice  on  the 
schoolhouse,  or  on  the  sign-post  in  the  district,  or  in 
some  other  mode  previously  designated  by  the  district; 
but  if  there  be  no  such  newspaper,  schoolhouse,  or  sign- 
post, or  other  mode  so  designated,  the  selectmen  of  the 
town  to  which  said  district  belongs  shall  determine  how 
the  notice  shall  be  given.  The  person  or  persons  giving 
such  notice  shall,  on  the  day  of  giving  it,  leave  a  dupli- 
cate of  it  with  the  clerk,  if  any,  of  the  district;  if  not, 
with  the  selectmen  to  be  delivered  to  the  clerk  when  ap- 
pointed, who  shall  preserve  it  on  file.2 

Lel'i'votersoV        SeC5'  *  * 7'     ^e  legal  voters3  of  any  school  district 

8c?ooiVdi8tr8icts.  shall  consist  only  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  or  towns 

in  which  said  district  is  situated,  who  have  resided  in 

said  school  district  for  the  period  of  four  months  next 

immediately  preceding. 

mtt^aifers        S6C'  * * 8'    No  inmate  of  the  almshouse  of  any  town, 
may  vote  into*  other  than  the  officers  and  employes  of  the  town  resid- 
ing therein,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  any  school  meet- 
ing of  the  district  wherein  such  almshouse  is  situated, 

1  The  meeting  must  be  opened  within  a  reasonable  time  after  the  hour 
specified  in  the  warning.  A  delay  of  over  an  hour  is  not  necessarily  un- 
reasonable. 13  Conn.,  234. 

2  All  that  is  required  in  the  notice  is,  that  it  should  be  so  expressed 
that  the  inhabitants  may  fairly  understand  the  purpose  of  the  meeting.    13 
Conn.,  234.    Tf  it  state  the  object  plainly,  it  need  not  specify  the  mode  of 
accomplishing  it,  and  if  there  is  more  than  one  sign-post  in  the  district, 
the  notice  may  be  posted  on  any  of  them.    15  Conn.,  332. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  state  business  in  warning  so  fully  or  precisely 
that  no  opportunity  for  change  and  no  variation  of  mode  shall  be  left  to- 
meeting.  55  Conn.,  246. 

3  Sees.  263-266. 


45 

unless  a  resident  of  such  district  at  the  time  of  his  be- 
coming such  inmate. 

Sec.  119.  In  every  school  district  whose  limits  are  o. s.  sec.  mo. 
the  same  as  the  limits  of  the  town  in  which  it  is  situated,  ?c^SCmeeting, 
the  town  registry  list  shall  be  the  registry  list  for  school  resistry list« etc- 
purposes, l  and  in  every  other  school  district  enumerating 
four  hundred  or  more  children,  as  returned  to  the  Comp- 
troller, the  registrars  of  voters  of  the  town  in  which  the 
schoolhouse  of  said  district  is  situated  shall  have  the  same 
powers  in  reference  to  voting  lists,  appointing  modera- 
tors and  box-tenders  of  school-district  meetings,  as  they 
now  have  in  the  election  of  town,  city,  or  ward  officers; 
and  said  registrars  of  voters  shall,  upon  the  written 
request  of  twenty  or  more  legal  voters  of  said  school 
district,  deposited  with  either  of  said  registrars  of  voters 
at  least  twenty  days  before  the  annual  meeting  of  said 
district,  prepare  and  complete  a  correct  list  of  all  the 
legal  voters  of  said  school  district,  and  lodge  the  same 
with  the  clerk  of  said  district  at  least  five  days  before 
said  annual  meeting;  and  in  every  other  school  district 
the  clerk  of  said  district  shall,  upon  the  written  request 
of  twenty  or  more  legal  voters  of  such  district,  lodged 
with  said  clerk  at  least  twenty  days  before  the  annual 
meeting  of  said  district,  prepare  the  check  list  of  the 
legal  voters  of  said  district,  to  be  used  at  any  meeting 
for  the  election  of  officers  in  said  district,  or  for  the  tak- 
ing of  any  vote  by  ballot  which  may  be  requested  by  one 
third  of  the  legal  voters  present  at  any  meeting  of  the 
school  district;  and  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  add  to  said  list 
the  name  of  any  legal  voter  omitted,  and  to  erase  there- 
from the  name  of  any  person  improperly  entered  thereon, 
and  for  this  purpose  he  shall  have  all  the  powers  within 
said  district  which  the  registrars  of  voters  have  in  their 
respective  towns. 

See.  120.  Whenever  one-third  of  the  legal  voters  &.  s.  sec.  tm. 
present  at  any  meeting  of  a  school  district  having  such  Sded  by^Sa- 
registration  shall  request  that  any  vote  or  votes  upon 
question  pending  before  such  meeting  shall  be  taken  by 
ballot  and  check-list  of  the  legal  voters  of  said  district, 

1  Sec.  150. 


46 


G.  S.  sec.  f  17*. 
Special  meet- 
ings. 


O.  8.  sec.  2173. 
Compensation 
for  preparing 
lists. 


Q.  S.  sec.  mk. 
Choice  of  mod- 
erator ;  illegal 
voting  in  dis- 
trict meeting. 


the  chairman  of  such  meeting  shall  cause  said  vote  or 
votes  to  be  so  taken,  and  if  said  vote  or  votes  cannot  be 
then  and  there  conveniently  and  properly  taken,  he  shall, 
upon  the  like  request  of  said  one-third  of  the  legal  voters 
present,  adjourn  said  meeting  to  the  usual  polling  place 
or  places  in  said  district,  if  there  be  any,  and  if  there  be 
none,  then  to  the  most  suitable  and  convenient  place  or 
places  in  said  district,  at  such  time  within  one  week  there- 
after as  he  may  designate,  when  and  where  said  vote  or 
votes  shall  be  taken  between  the  hours  of  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning  and  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the 
result  shall  be  ascertained  and  declared  by  said  chair- 
man, and  recorded  by  the  clerk  upon  the  records  of  said 
district. 

Sec.  121.  Upon  the  written  request  of  twenty  or 
more  legal  voters  of  any  school  district  having  such  reg- 
istration, to  the  committee  to  call  a  special  meeting  to 
vote  by  ballot  and  check-list  upon  any  resolutions  ap- 
pended to  such  request,  said  committee  shall  call  such 
meeting  within  three  weeks  thereafter,  at  some  suitable 
time  and  place  in  such  district,  to  be  particularly  stated 
in  the  call,  when  and  where  said  vote  or  votes  shall  be 
taken,  and  the  result  ascertained,  declared,  and  recorded 
in  the  manner  provided  in  the  preceding  section.  Upon 
like  request,  the  committee  of  any  school  district  having 
such  registration  shall  cause  all  elections  of  officers  of 
such  district  to  be  had  by  ballot  and  check-list,  as  in  this 
and  the  preceding  section  provided. 

See.  122.  The  compensation  of  each  of  said  regis- 
trars of  voters,  or  of  said  district  clerks  for  preparing 
said  lists,  shall  be  the  same  per  diem  as  that  paid  by  the 
town  in  which  said  district  is  situated  to  said  registrars 
of  voters,  per  diem,  for  preparing  the  voting  lists  used  at 
State,  town,  city,  or  ward  elections,  and  shall  be  paid  by 
the  treasurer  of  the  school  district  for  which  such  list  is 
prepared. 

See.  123.  Every  meeting  may  choose  its  own  mod- 
erator, and  may  adjourn  from  time  to  time  to  meet  at 
the  same  or  some  other  place  in  the  district.  Every  per- 


47 

son  who  shall  vote  illegally1  in  any  school  district  meet- 
ing shall  forfeit  thirty  dollars  to  the  town  in  which  the 
offense  is  committed. 

Sec.  124.    Each  school  district  shall  choose,  by  ballot,  <* 
at  the  annual  meeting,2  a  committee  of  not  more  than 
three  persons,8  a  clerk,  who  shall  be  sworn,4  and  a  treas-app011 
urer  and  collector  ;B     who  shall  hold   their  respective 
offices  for  the  period  of  one  year  from  the  fifteenth  day 
of  July  next  succeeding,  and  until  others  are  chosen  and  isso,  ch.  xivii, 
qualified  f  and  any  resident  of  the  district  so  chosen,  who 8ec>  1- 
shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  office, 
shall  pay  five  dollars  to  said  district ;  but  any  new  dis- 
trict may  choose  its  officers  at  its  first,  or  at  any  subse- 
quent meeting,  called  by  the  selectmen  of  the  town;7 
who  shall  hold  their  offices  till  the  annual  meeting  of 
such  district.     The  members  of  the  district  committee 
shall  be  residents  of  the  district ;  but  the  other  offices 
may  be  filled  by  any  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  which 
said  district  belongs. 

See.  125.    Any  school  district    having  by  its  last  G- s- 8ec-  *176- 

i  i        -i     i   .1  -i  i  Appointment  of 

enumeration  not  less  than  two  hundred  children  between  a  committee  of 

£  ,      .     ,  ..  .  ,    three  in  districts 

four  and  sixteen  years  of  age,  may,  at  any  annual  meet-  having  two  hun- 
ing,  due  notice  being  inserted  in  the  call  therefor,  order  etced  ° 
that  its  committee  shall  consist  of  three  persons  chosen 
by  ballot,  divided  into  three  classes  holding  office  for 
one,  two,  and  three  years,  and  that  annually  thereafter 
one  member  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot,  to  hold  office  for 
three  years.  Should  any  vacancy  occur,  the  remaining 
members  of  the  committee  may  fill  it  until  the  next  an- 
nual district  meeting,  when  all  vacancies  shall  be  filled. 
Whenever  any  district  has  appointed  its  committee  as 
herein  provided,  such  district  may,  at  any  special  meeting 
called  for  the  purpose,  vote  that  it  will  no  longer  so  ap- 

1  Sec.  117.          2  Sec.  114.        8  Sees.  170,  171. 

4  Form  of  oath  —  ' '  You  solemnly  swear  that  you  will  faithfully  dis- 
charge, according  to  law,  your  duties  as  clerk  of  the  district  to  the  best  of 
your  ability  ;  so  help  you  God."  G.  S.,  sec.  3264. 

The  clerk  need  not  take  oath  of  office  immediately  after  his  election, 
or  before  taking  minutes  of  the  proceedings  at  a  district  meeting  ;  pro- 
vided he  takes  it  before  he  performs  any  regular  official  act,  such  as  mak- 
ing or  sanctioning  a  formal  record.  15  Conn.,  333. 

6  G.  S.,  sec.  3876.  •  42  Conn.,  32.  '  Sec.  50. 


48 

point  its  committee,  and  thereupon  the  terms  of  office  of 

all  the  members  of  its  committee  shall  end  at  its  next 

annual  meeting,  and  thereafter  its  committee  shall  be 

appointed  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  general  law. 

G.s.8ec.2m.        See.  126.    In  all  elections  of   officers  of  school  dis- 

eiect°nt:          tricts,  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  shall  be  required  to 

elect,1  unless  otherwise  expressly  provided. 

Q.  s.  sec.  zm.        See.  127.    The  clerk  of  every  school  district  shall, 

eiectionaof8offi-  within  thirty  days  after  the  election  of  officers  in  such 

warded  to  sec-    district,  forward  to  the  secretary  of  the  board  of  school 

ofschooi  visi?  visitors  of  the  town  wherein  said  school  district  is  lo- 

cated, a  certified  list  of  the  officers  elected  at  such  meet- 

ing, together  with  the  post-office  address  of  each.     In 

case  any  district  is  situated  partly  in  two  or  more  towns, 

such  list  shall  be  sent  to  the  secretary  of  the  board  of 

school  visitors  of  each  of  said  towns.     Any  clerk  who 

Penalty.          shall  fail  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  section 

shall  forfeit  ten  dollars  to  the  district  of  which  he  is  clerk. 


Vacancies  'tow          S6C'    128'      If  ^^  district>  at   tn<3  time  f°r  tne 

filled.  meeting,  shall  fail  to  appoint  all,  or  any  of  its  officers; 

or  if  any  vacancy  shall  occur  by  removal  from  the  dis- 
trict, or  otherwise,  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  to  which 
such  district  belongs  shall  make  such  appointment2  and 
fill  such  vacancy,  on  receiving  written  notice  thereof 
from  any  three  members  of  the  district  ;  and  shall  lodge 
the  names  of  such  officers  so  appointed  with  the  district 
clerk. 

G.  s.  sec.  mo.        See.  129.    The  clerk,  treasurer,  and  collector  of  each 

cers!es        m"  school  district  shall  exercise  the  same  powers  and  per- 

form the  same  duties  in  their  respective  districts  as  the 

clerks,  treasurers,  and  collectors  of  towns  do  in  their  re- 

spective towns.3 

G.  s.  sec.  2181.       See.  130.    Any  district  may  require   the  treasurer 
Squ(ir3edDfrJmbe  and  collector  respectively  to  give  bonds  to  the  district, 


officers. 


1  A  plurality  vote,  taken  by  ballot,  is  insufficient  to  elect  the  committee 
of  a  school  district  even  if  they  be  afterwards  declared  elected  by  viva  wee 
major  vote.    42  Conn.,  34. 
2  Sec.  78. 

3  G.  S.,  chapter  ix,  page  19,  town  clerk. 
"        x,  page  21,  treasurer. 
"     ccxlii,  page  861,  collector. 


49 

to  the  approval  of  the  district  committee,  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  before 
assuming  such  duties. 

Sec.  131.    All  records1  and  papers  relating  to  or  af-  &>  s.  sec.  sist. 
f  ecting  the  interest  of  any  school  district  shall  at  all  times  papers  tojbe 
be  open  to  the  inspection  and  examination  of  any  person  K  *° 
liable  to  pay  taxes  in  said  district. 

Any  clerk  of  a  school  district  willfully  concealing,  Penalty, 
refusing,  or  neglecting  to  furnish  reasonable  access  to 
any  such  records  or  papers,  or  giving  false  or  incorrect 
information  as  to  the  same,  shall  forfeit  twenty-five  dol- 
lars, one-half  to  the  use  of  said  district,  the  other  half  to 
such  person  as  shall  prosecute  to  effect. 

Sec.  132.  In  case  of  any  refusal  or  neglect  by  any  G.s.sec.  giss. 
district  to  employ  a  teacher  and  keep  open  a  school  dur- 
ing  the  usual  portion  of  the  year,  the  school  visitors  of  8Ch°o1- 
the  town  having  jurisdiction  over  such  district  may  em- 
ploy teachers  and  keep  open  a  public  school  in  the  school- 
house  of  said  district  for  the  period  for  which  the  town 
would  be  obliged  during  that  school  year  to  maintain 
a  school  in  such  district ; 2  but  the  whole  expense  of  any 
school  thus  opened  shall  be  paid  by  the  town  on  the 
order  of  the  selectmen,  upon  their  receiving  a  certificate 
of  the  amount  thereof  from  the  school  visitors.  And, 
in  any  such  case,  the  town  shall  be  entitled  to  receive 
the  same  payments  from  the  school  fund  and  State  ap- 
propriation as  if  such  school  had  been  kept  open  by  such 
district  in  the  usual  manner. 

Sec.  133.    No  district  shall   be  entitled  to  receive  o.  s.  sec. 
any  money  from  the  State  or  town,  unless  it  has  a  school- 
house  and  out-buildings    satisfactory  to  the  board  of 8ChoolhoU3e- 
school  visitors.8 

Sec.  134.    No  new  schoolhouse  shall  be  built  except  o.s.ue.si8s.. 
according  to  a  plan  approved  by  the  board  of  school  vis- 
itors,  and  by  the  building  committee  of  such  district ; 

1  The  records  of  a  school  district  are  legal  evidence  of  its  proceedings 
in  a  suit  to  which  it  is  a  party.     13  Conn.,  235. 

*  Sec.  38. 

*  School  visitors  shall  inspect  schoolhouse  and  out-buildings  twice  in 
each  term.     Sec.  87. 


50 

nor  at  an  expense  exceeding  the  sum  which  the  district 
may  appropriate  therefor. 

G. s.  sec. urn.         See.  135.     The  vote  of  two-thirds  of  those  present 
SomSSe°!    and  voting  at  a  meeting  of  the  district  shall  be  necessary 
to  fix  or  change  the  site  of  a  schoolhouse  ;   but  if  such 
two-thirds  vote  cannot  be  obtained  in  favor  of  any  site, 
the  school  visitors  of  any  town  adjoining  the  town  or 
either  of  the  towns  in  which  such  district  is,  on  applica- 
tion  of  the  district,    shall,    after  conferring  with  the 
school  visitors  of  the  town  or  towns  in  which  such  dis- 
to°SooiavSi-  to*0*  *s  situated,  fix  the  site,  and  make  return  to  the 
tors  for  fixing    town  clerk  of  the  town  in  which  such  site  is  to  be  ;  and 
shall  receive  a  reasonable  compensation  for  their  ser- 
vices from  said  district.1 

si87.  gee.  136.  Any  school  district  may  take  land  which 
has  been  fixed  upon  as  a  site,  or  addition  to  a  site,  of  a 
8es'  schoolhouse  for  a  public  school,  and  which  is  necessary 
for  such  purposes,  and  for  necessary  out-buildings  and 
convenient  accommodations  for  its  schools,  upon  paying 
to  the  owner  just  compensation. a 

G.S.  sec.  zm.  See.  137.  If  such  school  district  cannot  agree  with 
Qgthe  owner  upon  the  amount  of  such  compensation,  it 
may  prefer  its  petition  to  the  Superior  Court  in  the 
county  in  which  the  land  lies,  or,  if  said  court  is  not  in 
session,  to  either  judge  thereof,  praying  that  such  compen- 
sation may  be  determined  ;  which  shall  be  accompanied 
toy  a  summons,  signed  by  competent  authority,  notify- 
ing the  owner  of  the  land  to  be  taken,  and  all  persons 
interested  herein  to  appear  before  the  said  court  or 
judge,  and  shall  be  served  as  a  writ  of  summons  in  civil 
^actions  ;  and  upon  said  petition  said  court  or  judge  shall 
.appoint  a  committee  of  three  disinterested  men,  who 
after  being  sworn  and  giving  reasonable  notice  to  the 
parties,  shall  examine  the  land  proposed  to  be  taken, 
;and  if  they  approve  the  site,  they  shall  ascertain  its  value 
and  assess  such  sum  in  favor  of  the  owner  as  will  justly 

1  Under  this  section  a  district  cannot,  without  a  two-thirds  vote,  order 
any  term  of  school  to  be  kept  elsewhere  than  at  the  regular  schoolhouse, 
if  there  be  one.     28  Conn.,  332,  333. 

2  See  sec.  139. 


51 

compensate  him  therefor  ;  but  if  they  do  not  approve 
said  site  they  may  fix  another  site  on  land  of  the  same 
owner  and  proceed  as  aforesaid,  and  report  their  doings 
to  said  court  or  judge,  and  their  report  may  be  rejected 
for  any  irregular  or  improper  conduct  in  the  perform- 
ance of  their  duties. 

See.  138.  If  the  report  be  rejected,  the  court  or  judge  0-  a.  sec. 
shall  appoint  another  committee,  who  shall  proceed  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  first  committee  were  required 18 
to  proceed  ;  but  if  it  be  accepted  by  said  court  or  judge, 
such  acceptance  shall  have  the  effect  of  a  judgment  in 
favor  of  the  owner  of  the  land  against  the  petitioner  for 
the  amount  of  the  assessment  made  by  the  committee, 
and  execution  may  be  issued  therefor ;  and  such  court  or 
judge  may  make  any  order  necessary  for  the  protection 
of  the  rights  of  all  persons  interested  in  the  land  taken  ; 
but  the  land  shall  not  be  used  or  inclosed  by  the  district 
until  the  amount  of  said  judgment  shall  be  paid  to  the 
party  to  whom  it  is  due,  or  deposited  for  his  use  with  costs  of  court, 
the  county  treasurer.  Said  district  shall  pay  the  com- 
mittee a  reasonable  compensation  for  their  services,  to 
be  taxed  by  said  court  or  judge. 

See.  139,    No  school  district,  society,  city,  or  town  G.  s.  sec.  tm. 
shall  take  for  school  purposes  the  land  of  any  ecclesias-  aft^afLSety81" 
tical  society  upon  any  part  of  which  a  church  building 
has  already  been  erected  without  the  consent  of  such 
ecclesiastical  society,  or  any  land  devoted  to  or  used  for 
cemetery  or  burial  purposes. 

See.  140.    Persons  not  residing  in  a  school  district  G.  s.  sec.  sm. 
may  attend  the  public  schools  therein,  if  the  consent  of  S£88ident 
the  committee  of  such  district  and  of  the  school  visitors 
of  the  town  be  first  obtained,  but  not  otherwise. 

See.  141.    Any  school  district  or  town  may,  by  a,  0.  s.  KC.  SMS. 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  those  present  at  any  legal  meeting,  J££Bea S°o°ther 
allow  its  schoolhouse  or  houses,  when  not  in  use  fOrpurp08e6> 
school  purposes,  to  be  used  for  any  other  purpose.1 

1  Districts  have  no  right  against  the  wishes  of  any  of  their  taxpayers 
to  allow  religious  meetings  to  be  regularly  held  in  their  schoolhouses 
when  the  school  is  not  in  session  if  it  does  any  substantial  injury  to  the 
building  or  its  contents  or  increases  the  danger  of  fire,  and  an  injunction 
may  be  granted  in  such  case  on  the  instance  of  any  taxpayer.  27  Conn., 
503-508. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Consolidation  of  School  Districts 

»  TITLE  xxxr,  Cmrna  cxxxn,  *A«B  4TT] 
BMtm 


^  .<     /  Section  142.    Any  town  may  abolish  all  the  school 

districts  and  parts  of  school  districts  within  its  limits 
and  assume  and  maintain  control  of  the  public  schools 
therein,  subject  to  such  requirements  and  restrictions  as 
are  or  may  be  imposed  by  the  General  Assembly ;  and 
for  this  purpose  eTery  such  town  shall  constitute  one 
school  district/  haying;  all  the  powers  and  duties  of  a 
school  district  with  the  exceptions  hereinafter  stated. 

See*  143*  *  Whenever  a  vote  shall  be  taken  in  any 
town  in  reference  to  abolishing  school  districts  and 
assuming  control  of  the  public  schools  therein,  such 
vote  shall  be  by  ballot,  at  an  annual  town  meeting,  upon 
notice  thereof  given  in  the  warning.  The  selectmen 
shall  provide  a  ballot-box  for  that  purpose,  marked 
^Consolidation  of  Districts,**  Those  in  favor  of  such 
consolidation  shall  deposit  in  said  box  a  ballot  with  the 
word  "yes"  written  or  printed  thereon,  and  those  op- 
posed shall  deposit  a  ballot  with  the  word  "  no"  written 
or  printed  thereon,  and  in  towns  divided  into  wards  or 


tf  >  N»  MK 

SfittSL 


'Scfeool  districts  are 

vcrv-:  .:.-.'.  .:-.-.:•.-  .:   v:-: 


01  :::e 


Fta 


p*  v 


53 

voting  districts  for  annual  town  meetings  such  a  ballot- 
box  shall  be  provided  at  each  of  such  wards  or  voting 
districts,  and  the  ballots  shall  be  examined,  assorted, 
counted,  and  declared  in  the  manner  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  144.    A  vote  to  consolidate  the  school  districts UM./&- «*«. 
in  any  town,  in  accordance  with  section  142,  shall 
effect  on  the  first  Monday  of  July  next  succeeding 
vote. 

Sec.  145.    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  selectmen  of  ma, 
any  town  so  voting  to  call,  not  later  than  the  next  Number  of  com - 
first  Monday  of  May,  a  special  meeting  of  said  town  to !£*£*£*- 
determine  the  number  of  which  the  school  committee  of™ 
such  town  shall  thereafter  consist.     Such  committee 
shall  be  composed  of  residents  of  said  town,  and  shall 
be  in  number  either  six,  nine,  or  twelve. 

Sec.  1 46.    It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  such  selectmen  &*•£*-  ****** 
I  meeting:  of  said  town  to  be  held  on  the  committee,  low 


to  call  a  special  meeting  of 
next  first  Monday  of  June,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  by 
ballot  a  school  committee  of  such  town  of  the  number 
determined  upon  at  the  special  meeting  held  for  that  pur- 
pose, or,  if  such  town  shall  at  such  meeting  have  failed 
to  fix  such  number  of  the  number  of  six,  nine,  or  twelve, 
as  said  selectmen  may  determine.  In  all  cases  the  num- 
ber of  the  committee  to  be  elected  shall  be  stated  in  the 
warning  of  said  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  such  elec- 
tion. Such  election  shall  be  conducted  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  annual  elections  of  said  town. 

Method  of  Procedure  onder  Sections  142-148: 

L    lBYOtfBgoBtteqwrtlaBofOfWMlUalfaBarDMileti:— 

1.  The  Tote  can  be  taken  anlj  at  the  October  town  meeting.  Sec.  143. 

2.  The  ballot-box  in  which  the  baHotsfor  town  officers  are  deposited 
fthouW  be  marked"  Consolidation  of  Districts."    Sec.  143. 

3.  Official  baBffU  with  the  words  "yes"  mud  "no"  most  be  used 
aiid  (»n  be  obtained  a«  other  official  ballots  are  obtained.    Sees.  1  and  2, 
pages  1115  and  1116,  Acts  of  1899. 

4.  The  ballot  most  be  placed  in  the  official  envelope  with  ballots  for 
town  officers  and  deposited  in  the  box  marked  as  stated  above.    Sec. 
3,  page  1117,  Acts  of  1899. 

5.  The  following  clause  in  the  warning  of  the  town  meeting  win  be 


54 
issg,  ch.  ccxix,        Sec.  147.    If   the  number  of    the  committee  to  be 

SfT    4 

Number  to  be  elected  shall  be  six  or  twelve,  no  person  shall  vote  for 
more  than  half  that  number ;  if  the  number  shall  be  nine, 
no  person  shall  vote  for  more  than  five,  and  the  six,  nine, 
or  twelve  persons,  as  the  case  may  be,  receiving  at  such 
election  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  school 
committee  of  said  town  for  the  respective  terms  as  here- 
inafter provided,  commencing  on  the  first  Monday  of 
July  next  following. 

i889,gch.  ccxix,  SeG.  148.  The  members  of  such  committee  so  elected 
classification,  shall  divide  themselves  into  three  equal  classes,  holding 
office  respectively  until  the  second,  third,  and  fourth 
subsequent  annual  town  elections  of  said  town,  at  which 
elections  and  every  annual  election,  subsequent  to  the 
last  thereof,  two,  three,  or  four  members,  as  the  case 
may  be,  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  for  a  term  of  three 
years,  in  the  manner  prescribed  for  the  election  of  school 
visitors.1 

1889,  ch.  cxv.  Sec.  1 49.  The  town  clerks  of  the  several  towns  shall 
eonTeeiecteIr"to  within  ten  days  after  the  election  of  such  officers  return 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  State  the  names  of  the  persons 
elected  to  the  offices  ...  of  school  visitors  or  school 
committee,  with  date  of  expiration  of  term. 


II.  2he  May  meeting,   to  determine  the  number  of  which  the  School 
Committee  shall  consist. 

If  the  vote  at  the  October  meeting  is  in  favor  of  consolidation,  a  town 
meeting  must  be  held  in  May,  Sec.  145,  to  determine  the  number  of  which 
the  School  Committee  is  to  be  composed. 

The  warning  must  contain  a  proper  clause,  and  the  vote  should  run  as 
follows:  — 

The  School  Committee  to  be  elected  on  the  first  Monday  in  June,  190  ,  shall  con- 
sist of  .  .  .  *  members. 

III.  The  June  meeting,  to  elect  a  School  Committee.      On  the  first 
Monday  in  June,  Sec.  146,  the  School  Committee  must  be  elected. 

The  terms  of  office  of  the  School  Committee  begin  on  the  first 
Monday  of  July.  Sec.  147. 


*  Six,  nine,  or  twelve. 
1  Sees.  46,  47. 


55 

Sec.   150.     In  every  school  district  whose  limits  are  G.  s.  sec.  2 no. 
the  same  as  the  limits  of  the  town  in  which  it  is  situated  Voting  list- 
the  town  registry  list  shall  be  the  registry  list  for  school 
purposes.1 

Sec.  151.     All   business  relating  to    public  schools ^f^L 
in  such  towns  shall  be  transacted  at  town  meetings.3        fng8town  meetr 

Sec.  152.     The  school  committee  in  such  town  shall  G.^ sec.  2197. 
have  in  general  the  powers  and  duties  of  district  com-  SSTS"^?1" 
mittees  ;'  and  boards  of  school  visitors.4 

Shall  see  that  good  public  schools  of  the  different 
grades  are  maintained  in  the  various  parts  of  the  town 
for  not  less  than  the  same  length  of  time  as  would  be  re- 
quired had  no  such  consolidation  been  made.6 

Shall  provide  rooms,  examine,  employ,  and  pay  the  isss,  ch.  ccx. 
teachers,  and  shall  have  all  the  powers  and  duties  in  re- 
lation to  evening  schools  established  under  sections  65, 
69,  73,  and  74  as  belong  to  said  committee  in  connection 
with  day  schools. 

Shall  appoint  one  or  more  acting  visitors6  under  their 
direction,  to  examine  teachers  and  visit  schools. 

Manage  the  property  of  the  town  pertaining  to 
schools. 

Lodge  all  bonds,  leases,  notes,  and  other  securities 
with  the  treasurer  of  said  town,  unless  the  same  have 
been  intrusted  to  others  by  the  grantors,  or  the  General 
Assembly. 

Pay  to  the  town  treasurer  all  moneys  which  they  may 
receive  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Determine  the  number  and  qualifications  of  the  schol- 
ars to  be  admitted  into  each  school; 

Designate  the  schools  which  shall  be  attended  by  the 
children  within  their  jurisdiction; 

1  Sec.  119. 

2  May  permit  school  buildings  to  be  used  for  other  than  school  pur- 
poses.    Sec.  141. 

3  Chapter  x,  page  61.  4  Chapter  vii,  page  29. 

5  Sec.  38. 

6  Sec.  87.     May  appoint  acting  visitor  not  of  their  own  number.     Sec. 
88. 


56 

And  may  arrange  with  the  committee  of  any  adjacent 
town  or  district  for  the  instruction  therein  of  such  chil- 
dren as  may  attend  there  more  conveniently; 
Shall  fill  any  vacancies  in  their  own  number; 
Shall  annually,  during  the  first  two  weeks  of  Septem- 
ber, ascertain  the  expenses  of  maintaining  the  schools 
under  their  superintendence,  during  the  year  ending  the 
thirty -first  day  of  the  previous  August,1  and  report  the 
same,  with  the  amount  of  moneys  received  toward  the 
payment  thereof,  to  the  annual  town  meeting; 

And  shall,  at  the  same  time,  make  a  full  report  of 
their  doings,  and  the  condition  of  the  schools  under 
their  superintendence,  and  of  all  important  matters  con- 
cerning the  same; 

And  shall  perform  all  lawful  acts  which  may  be  re- 
quired of  them  by  the  town,  or  which  may  be  necessary 
to  carry  into  effect  the  provisions  of  this  title.2  3 
1895,  ch.-ccciv.  See.  153.  THe  school  committees  in  towns  in  which 
the  school  districts  are  consolidated  shall  examine,  em- 
ploy, and  dismiss  the  teachers  for  the  schools  of  such 
towns. 

G.  s.  sec.  2198.  See.  1 54.  Such  towns  shall  assume  the  property  and 
deXdf?onsoi-be  responsible  for  the  debts  of  the  districts  within  their 
3<  respective  limits.  Such  property  may  be  appraised  and 
the  amount  of  the  debts  estimated,  under  the  direction  of 
the  town,  and  the  appraised  value  of  such  property  shall 
be  raised  by  a  tax  to  be  laid  by  the  town  on  its  grand  list 
next  completed;  and  the  tax-payers  in  each  of  the  dis- 
tricts previously  existing,  shall  be  paid  or  credited  on  the 
rate-bill  with  their  respective  proportions  of  any  excess 
of.  the  property  of  such  district  over  and  above  its  liabil- 
ities, as  ascertained  by  the  town;  or  the  difference  in  the 
value  of  the  property  of  the  several  districts  may  be  ad- 
justed in  any  other  manner  agreed  upon  by  the  parties 

1  Sec.  190. 

8  Duties  as  to  (1)  Evening  schools;  Sees.  72,  67,  68.  (2)  Employment 
of  children  in  factories;  Sec.  4.  3)  Text-books;  Sec.  80.  May  prescribe 
supplementary  readers;  Sec.  81.  May,  if  town  direct,  purchase  school 
books  for  free  distribution  to  pupils;  Sec.  45. 

3  Each  member  of  a  school  committee  appointed  by  a  vote  of  a  town 
to  repair  one  of  its  schoolhouses  has  the  right  to  enter  the  building  for 
the  purpose  of  performing  that  duty.  State  V.  Foote,  71  Conn.,  737. 


57 

in  interest.  Permanent  funds  vested  in  any  town  for 
school  purposes  shall  remain  in  charge  of  the  school  fund 
treasurer  of  the  town. 

Sec.  155.    Whenever  any  town  shall  have  assumed  G- s- sec-  %m- 
control  of  and  appraised  the  school  property,  as  provided  Time  for  pay-' 

. ,  , .  , .  , ,  T    *          ,  ment  of  tax 

in  the  preceding  section,  the  town  may,  by  vote  in  town  extended. 
meeting,  extend  the  time  in  which  the  tax-payers  of  any 
district  or  districts  shall  be  required  to  pay  the  excess 
of  assessment  over  the  appraised  value  of  the  property 
in  such  district  for  a  period  not  exceeding  five  years, 
and  all  the  property  belonging  to  the  school  districts 
over  which  any  town  has  assumed  or  shall  assume  con- 
trol, shall  be  vested  in  such  town  to  be  held  for  school 
purposes  so  long  as  so  required,  and  may  be  sold  and 
deeded  by  said  town  when  not  required  for  school  pur- 
poses. 

Sec.  156.  Whenever  any  town  has  voted,  or  here-  G-  s.  «gc-  **oo- 
after  shall  vote,  to  assume  control  of  all  the  schools, 
provided  in  this  chapter,  in  case  there  is  a  joint  district, 
the  selectmen  of  the  towns  out  of  which  such  joint  dis- 
trict is  formed  shall  meet  within  ten  days  after  receiving 
a  written  request  for  such  meeting,  signed  by  the  first 
selectman  of  either  of  said  towns,  and  appraise  the 
schoolhouse  and  other  school  property  owned  and  used 
by  said  joint  district,  and  determine  what  proportion  is 
owned  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  residing  in  said 
district.  If  the  several  boards  of  selectmen  shall  not 
agree,  the  same  shall  be  determined  by  a  judge  of  the 
Superior  Court,  upon  application  of  either  of  the  boards 
of  selectmen,  and  his  decision  shall  be  final.  The  propor- 
tion belonging  to  the  tax-payers  of  the  town  in  which 
the  property  is  not  located,  after  deducting  the  indebted- 
ness of  the  district,  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  such 
town  by  the  treasurer  of  the  town  in  which  such  prop- 
erty is  located,  and  the  same  shall  be  remitted  to  the  tax- 
payers of  said  town. 

Sec.  157.    In  case  any  school  district,  formerly  ex-  G.  s.  sec.  stoi. 
isting  in  a  town  in  which  the  school  districts  have  been  SfSfS*  dis" 
or  shall  be  abolished  or  consolidated,  has  received  a  per-  manag«ment  of 
manent  fund  for  the  support  of  a  school  or  schools  in 
said  district,  the  school  fund  treasurer  shall  have  charge 


58 

of  it,  and  keep  a  separate  account  thereof  ;  and  the  in- 
come of  said  fund  shall  be  held  subject  to  the  order  of 
the  school  committee,  which  shall  apply  it  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  school  or  schools  within  or  nearest  to  the  limits 
of  the  district  formerly  existing,  in  such  manner  as  ta 
carry  out,  as  nearly  as  possible,  the  intent  of  the  grantor 
of  said  fund. 


o.  s.  sec.  2202.  See.  ^53^  Every  such  town  shall  be  entitled  to  re- 
B8'  ceive  from  the  State,  annually,  and  upon  the  conditions 
prescribed  for  school  districts,  for  the  purposes  of  school 
libraries,  a  sum  not  exceeding  the  aggregate  amount 
which  the  former  districts  of  said  town  might  have  re- 
ceived in  like  circumstances.1 

0.8.uc.Moi.        See.  159.    When  any  part  of  a  school  district  lying 

Notice  of  aboli-  .  i      1  1    T_          T_    T    i      j  i  •  j    j 

tion  of  part  of  a  in  two  or  more  towns  shall  be  abolished  or  consolidated 
by  either,  its  selectmen  shall  give  immediate  notice 
thereof  to  the  selectmen  of  the  other  town  or  towns, 
which  shall  thereafter  provide  for  the  schooling  of  the 
children  belonging  thereto,  who  formerly  belonged  to 
said  school  district. 

0.s.  gee.  sm.        See.  160.    Any  school  district  which  has  been  or 

toA*  tmayset.  shall  be  abolished  by  any  town  may  settle  and  close  up 

r8'  its  affairs  ;  and  its  district  committee  last  elected,  or  the 

selectmen  of  said  town,  may  call  special  meetings  of  the 

district. 

0.8.sec.ttM.  See.  161.  If  any  such  district  has  or  shall  become 
Se.  °f  paymg  liable  by  judgment  or  otherwise  to  pay  any  claims  or 
demands  upon  it,  or  expenses  and  liabilities  have  been 
or  shall  be  incurred  by  it  in  settling  up  its  affairs  after 
consolidation,  the  selectmen  of  said  town,  upon  the  re- 
quest of  said  district,  shall  pay  the  same  and  charge  the 
amount  to  the  district,  and  said  amount  shall  be  raised 
by  the  selectmen  adding  the  same  to  the  tax  to  be  laid 
by  the  said  town  on  its  grand  list  next  completed  of  the 
taxable  property  of  such  district. 

0.  s.  sec.  2207.         See.  162.    Said    selectmen    shall    collect  all   taxes, 
toxeseiS0favorof  claims,   and  demands  in  favor  of  such  district,  in  the 
name  of  the  district,  and  credit  the  same  to  the  district, 
less  expenses  of  collection. 


1  Sec.  172. 


59 

Sec.  163.    Any  town  which  shall  hereafter  assume  o.  s.  sec. 
the  control  of  its  public  schools,  as  provided  in  th 
chapter,  may  at  any  annual  meeting,  not  previous  to 1889' cn- ccii- 
the  fifth  annual  meeting  thereafter,  vote  to  abandon  Vote  how  taken, 
such  control  and  re-establish  the  several  districts  as 
they  were  before  said  action,  which  vote  shall  be  by 
ballot,  in  the  manner  prescribed  in  section  143. 

See.  164.    When  any  town  has  voted  to  re-establish  G.  s.  sec.  2209. . 
its  school  districts  as  provided  in  the  preceding  section,  £°^°dbfeo;!e~ 
each  of  the  districts  shall  pay  the  town  for  all  improve-  improvements. 
ments  which  the  town  has  made  on  the  schoolhouse,  its 
furniture,  and  appurtenances  within  the  district.     The 
amounts  to  be  thus  paid  shall  be  determined  by  the  se- 
lectmen  and  the  school  committee  of  the  town.     When 
such  payments  are  made,  the  town  shall  restore  or  make 
good  to  each  of  the  districts  the  school  property  and 
local  funds  formerly  belonging  to  the  district.     If  any 
district  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  make  the  payment  re-  ]™n 
quired  by  this  section  till  the  expiration  of  six  months 
after  the  passage  of  the  vote  of  the  town  to  re-establish 
the  districts,  the  selectmen  may  cause  a  tax  sufficient  to 
make  said  payment,  including  the  cost  of  laying  and 
collecting  such  tax,  to  be  laid  on  the  district  in  the  man- 
ner provided  by  law  for  school  district  taxes 1  (except 
that  the  selectmen  shall  perform  the  duties  required  of 
district  committees  therein),  and  to  be  collected  and 
paid  to  the  town. 

Sec.  165.    A  vote  to  re-establish  the  school  districts  G. 8.  sec.  mo. 
shall  not  take  effect  further  than  to  authorize  the  dis-  ^£JJKiB. 
trict  to  hold  meetings,  lay  and  collect  taxes,  and  appoint  *™£8t  take8  ful1 
officers  for  these  purposes,  till  all  the  settlements  and 
payments  required  by  the  preceding  section  have  been 
made ;  and  unless  such  payments  and  settlements  are 
made  within  one  year  after  the  passage  of  said  vote, 
said  vote  shall  be  null  and  void. 

See.  166.    When  any  town  in  which  the  school  dis-  G. s.  sec.  2211. 
tricts  have  been  consolidated  under  the  provisions  of  feceho? ^onToTi-1" 
the  Acts  of  1866,  1867,  1869,  and  1872,  has  abandoned  or  ?0atbf  8Sr01ctv8i8. 
shall  abandon  such  system,  the  persons  elected  school  abXdonm™t°of 

town  system. 
1  Chapter  xvii,  page  88. 


60 

committee  of  such  union  districts  at  the  election  next 
preceding  such  abandonment  shall  be  and  remain  the 
members  of  the  board  of  school  visitors  of  such  town, 
with  all  the  powers  and  duties  of  school  visitors,  during 
the  term  of  one,  two,  and  three  years  for  which  they 
were  or  may  be  respectively  elected,  in  the  same  manner 
as  if  elected  school  visitors  of  such  town  according  to  the 
statute  in  such  case  provided. 

G.  s.sec.  2212.        See.  167.    Towns  shall  have  the  same  powers  and 
SJoig  land  for  be  subject  to  the  same  regulations  as  school  districts  in 
purposes.         taking  land  for  schoolhouses,  outbuildings,  and  conven- 
ient accommodations  for  schools.1 

G.  s.  sec.  taos.         See.  168.    The  expenses  of  maintaining  public  schools 
Payment  of      m  Sucj1  towns,  which  shall  be  incurred  with  the  approval 
expenses.         of  ^e  schooi  committee,  shall  be  paid  by  the  town,  ex- 
cept so  far  as  they  may  be  met  by  the  income  from  local 
school  funds. 

G.  s.  sec.  2229.  See,  169.  When  any  town  shall  constitute  one 
£hooibmoney°f  school  district,  the  Comptroller  shall  transmit  to  the 
treasurer  of  such  town  such  proportion  of  the  income  of 
the  school  fund,  and  of  any  other  money  appropriated 
for  the  support  of  the  public  schools,  as  the  number  of 
persons  between  the  ages  of  four  and  sixteen,  residing  in 
such  town,  bears  to  the  whole  number  of  such  persons 
residing  within  the  State,  as  ascertained  by  the  returns 
made,  as  by  law  provided.2 

1  Sees.  134-138.     Towns  may  not  take  land  used  for  ecclesiastical  or 
cemetery  purposes.     Sec.  139. 

2  Sees.  177,  182. 


61 


CHAPTER  X 
District  Committees 

[GBN.  STAT.,  TITLE  XXXY,  CHAPTER  cxxxvn,  PAGE  481] 

SECTION  I  SECTION 

170.    Duties  and  powers.  I  171.    Reports  required. 

Section  170.    The  committee1  of  every  district  shall  G-  s.s 
give  due  notice  of  all  meetings  of  the  district ;  powers. n 

May  call  a  special  meeting 2  thereof  at  any  time,  and 
shall  call  one,  on  the  written  request  of  one-fifth  or  of  ten 
of  the  legal  voters  in  the  district,  stating  the  object  for 
which  a  meeting  is  desired,  to  be  held  within  fifteen  days 
after  such  request  is  presented;  and  for  any  failure  so  to 
comply  with  such  a  request  they  shall  forfeit  thirty  dol- 
lars to  the  district. 

They  shall,  unless  otherwise  directed  by  the  district, 
or  unless  the  town  has  directed  the  school  visitors  to- 
employ  the  teachers,3  employ  one  or  more  qualified 
teachers  ; 4 

Shall  provide  suitable  schoolrooms  ; 5 

And  furnish  the  same  with  fuel  properly  prepared  ; 

Visit  the  schools,  by  one  or  more  of  their  number, 
twice  at  least  during  each  term ; 

Shall,  when  the  scholars  are  not  properly  supplied 
with  books,  and  their  parents  are  too  poor  to  furnish 


1  Vacancies  filled  by  board  of  school  visitors.     Sec.  128.    Must  be  a 
resident  of  the  district.     Sec.  124. 

2  Sees.  114,  121,  160. 

3  Sees.  43,  78,  132. 

4  Committee  can  remove  teachers  when  they  think  it  for  the  interest  of 
the  school,  but  both  in  appointing  and  removing  teachers  they  are  sub- 
ject to  the  control  and  direction  of  the  district.     33  Conn.,  304.     They  can 
employ  teachers  for  a  time  extending  beyond  their  own  term  of  office.     36- 
Conn.,  282.     See  last  paragraph  of  this  Section. 

A  contract  for  the  hiring  of  a  teacher,  made  by  two  of  three  members 
of  a  district  committee,  is  valid  where  the  third  member  either  author- 
ized them  beforehand  or  consented  to  it  afterwards.  46  Conn.,  400. 

6  Sec.  132.  When  the  district  has  a  proper  schoolhouse,  the  committee- 
cannot  provide  another  school  elsewhere.  28  Conn.,  333. 


62 

them,  provide  the  same,  the  cost  thereof  to  be  included 
in  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  term ; 

Shall  suspend  during  pleasure,  or  expel  from  school 
for  the  term,  all  pupils  found  guilty,  on  full  hearing,  of 
incorrigibly  bad  conduct ; 1 

And  shall  give  such  information  and  assistance  to  the 
school  visitors  of  the  town  as  they  may  require.3 

1895,  ch.  cxxxi.  NO  committee  of  any  school  district  of  this  state 
elected  under  the  provisions  of  section  124  of  this  com- 
pilation shall  employ  any  teacher  or  teachers,  or  do  any 
other  business  for  said  district  for  a  longer  period  of  time 
than  that  for  which  he  may  have  been  elected  without 
first  obtaining  at  a  meeting  of  said  district  legally  called 
for  that  purpose,  a  majority  vote  in  favor  of  such  pro- 
posed action. 

G.  s.  sec.  mi*        See.  171.    The  committee  shall  give  to  the  secretary 

required.  of  the  board  of  school  visitors  notice  of  the  date  of  the 
commencement  and  close  of  each  school  term,  within 
one  week  of  said  commencement,  and  at  least  four  weeks 
before  the  close,  respectively  ;  and  each  committee  shall, 
at  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  office,  on  the  fifteenth 

issQ,  cb.  xivii,  day  of  July  in  each  year,  or  within  five  days  thereafter, 
report  to  the  school  visitors  in  the  manner  and  form 
prescribed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.8 

They  shall  return  an  enumeration  of  the  children  re- 
siding in  the  district  on  the  first  day  of  October  in  each 
year,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  title; 4 

And  the  committee  of  every  district,  formed  from 
parts  of  two  or  more  towns,  shall  make  such  return  to 
the  school  visitors  of  each  of  said  towns,  specifying  the 
towns  to  which  each  person  so  enumerated  belongs  ; 
and  shall  make  returns  to  the  secretary  of  the  board  of 
school  visitors  of  the  town  having  jurisdiction  over  the 
district  of  the  receipts,  expenditures,  and  statistics,  in 
accordance  with  blank  forms  furnished  by  the  secretary 
of  the  State  Board  of  Education. 6 


of  a  school  committee  can  forcibly  expel  from  the  school  - 
house  a  pupil  who  answers  him  with  insolence  and  profanity.  41  Conn., 
446.  2To  be  notified  of  estimates  and  appropriations.  Sees.  189,  191. 

*  Sec.  2. 

4  Sec.  177.     Time  of  return  of  enumeration.     Sec.  179.       6  Sec.  201. 


63 


CHAPTER  XI 
School  Libraries  and  Philosophical  Apparatus 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  cxxxix,  PAGE  483] 


SECTION 

172.  When  State  aid  may  be  had,  etc. 

173.  Selection  of  books  and  apparatus. 


SECTION 

174.    Committee  on  library  and  apparatus. 


Section  172.  The  Treasurer  of  the  State,  upon  the  £.£.**?. 
order  of  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,1 
shall  pay  ten  dollars  to  every  school  district,  and  to  every 
town  maintaining  a  high  school,  which  shall  raise  by 
tax  or  otherwise  a  like  sum  for  the  same  purpose,  to 
establish  within  such  district,  or  for  the  use  of  such  high 
school,  a  school  library  composed  of  books  of  reference, 
and  other  books  to  be  used  in  connection  with  school 
work,  and  to  procure  maps,  globes,  or  any  proper  philo- 
sophical and  chemical  apparatus;  and  the  further  sum 
of  five  dollars  annually,2  upon  a  like  order,  to  every  such 
district  or  town  which  has  raised  a  like  sum  for  the  cur- 
rent year  for  maintaining  or  replenishing  such  library 
or  apparatus.  And  if  the  number  of  scholars  in  actual  TO  large  dis- 

,       , .  ,   .     ,          ,         ,  ,     tricts  or  high 

attendance  in  any  such  district  or  high  school  exceeds  schools. 
one  hundred,  the  Treasurer  shall  pay  ten  dollars  in  the 
first  instance,  and  five  dollars  annually  thereafter,  for 
every  one  hundred  or   fractional    part  of    a    hundred 
scholars  in  excess  of  the  first  hundred.     The  expense  Expense  to  be 
incurred  by  any  district  in  accordance  with  the  pro vi-  amongethe  inci- 
sions of  this  section  may  be  reckoned  among  Its  inciden-  onhe  dStSct68 
tal  expenses,  and  be  defrayed  in  the  manner  provided  in 
this  title  for  such  incidental  expenses. 

Sec.  173.    The  selection  of  all  books  and  apparatus  &.  s.sec.  ssig. 
to  be  purchased  shall  be  made  or  approved  by  the  board  boSanc 

ratus. 

1  Account  is  kept  by  State  Board  of  Education.    Sec.  6. 
8  The  library  year  coincides  with  the  calendar  year. 
8  "  Actual  attendance"  is  construed  to  mean  the  number  of  different 
scholars  registered  in  the  school  year. 
5 


64 

of  school  visitors ;  which  shall  also  prescribe  the  rules 
for  their  management,  use,  and  safe  keeping.1 
1889,  ch.xvii.  Sec.  174.    The  joint  board  of  selectmen  and  school 

Committee  oil 

abraratusd  visitors  in  each  town  shall  have  power  to  appropriate 
money  for  the  purchase  of  books  and  apparatus  to  be 
used  in  the  public  schools  of  the  town.  The  money 
thus  appropriated  shall  be  expended  by  a  committee  on 
libraries  and  apparatus,  which  shall  be  annually  ap- 
pointed by  the  school  visitors,  to  whom  the  treasurer  of 
the  town  shall  pay  such  money  upon  the  written  order 
of  such  committee.  The  Treasurer  of  the  State,  upon  the 
order  of  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education, 
shall  annually  pay  the  said  committee  five  dollars  for 
every  public  school  within  said  town,  and  if  the  number 
of  scholars  in  any  public  school  within  the  town  exceeds 
one  hundred,  the  Treasurer  shall  annually  pay  to  said 
committee  five  dollars  for  every  one  hundred  scholars 
and  fractional  part  of  one  hundred  scholars  in  actual 
attendance  at  such  school ;  provided,  however,  that  no 
greater  amount  shall  be  paid  to  such  committee  by  the 
State  than  is  paid  during  the  same  year  by  the  town  for 
the  same  purpose ;  and  provided  further,  that  any  amount 
paid  by  the  State  under  section  172  to  any  district  or  for 
any  high  school  within  said  town  shall  be  deducted  from- 
the  amount  payable  under  this  act.  The  books  and 
apparatus  purchased  under  the  provisions  of  this  act 
shall  be  and  remain  the  property  of  the  town,  and  under 
the  care  and  control  of  the  said  committee  on  libraries 
and  apparatus. 


1  Sees.  78,  102,     School  visitors  shall  inspect  library  twice  each  term. 
Sec.  87 


85 


CHAPTER  XII 
Teachers 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  CXL,  PAGE  484] 

SECTION  I   SECTION 

175.    Certificate  of  examination  required.       I   176.    Duties  as  to  school  register. 

Section  175.    No  teacher  shall  be  employed1  in  any  G- s- sec-  ****• 

.     .  ..  ,.  . ,  ,    /.    "         ,,  ,      Certificate  of 

school  receiving  any  portion  of  its  support  from  the  pub-  examination  by 
lie  money  until  he  has  received  a  certificate  of  approba- 8C 
tion,  signed  by  a  majority  of  the  board  of  school  visitors, 
or  by  all  the  committee  by  them  appointed  ;2  nor  shall 
any  teacher  be  entitled  to  any  wages,3  so  far  as  the  same 
is  paid  out  of  any  public  money  appropriated  to  schools, 
unless  he  can  produce  such  certificate,4  dated  previous 
to  the  opening  of  his  school. 

1  May  be  employed  by  (a)  school  visitors.     Sec.  43. 

(b)  Boards  of  education.     Sec.  54. 

(c)  District  committees.     Sec.  170. 

(d)  Town  committees.     Sec.  152. 

(e)  High  school  committees.     Sec.  60. 
Teacher  of  music.     Sec.  44. 

8  May  be  examined  by  (d)  State  Board  of  Education.     Sec.  5. 

(b)  School  visitors.     Sec.  78. 

(c)  Boards  of  education.     Sec.  57. 

(d)  Town  committee.     Sec.  152. 

3  Shall  be  paid  once  a  month  unless  district  vote  otherwise.     Sec.  192. 

4  A  general  certificate  of  examination  and  approbation  not  limited  to 
any  particular  district  or  term  of  school  makes  the  holder  qualified  to 
teach  in  any  district  of  the  town  unless  it  is  revoked  or  a  re-examination 
required.     36  Conn.,  282.     Teachers  may  be  discharged  by  the  district,  or 
in  the  absence  of  any  action  by  the  district,  by  the  district  committee,  if 
they  think  it  for  the  interest  of  the  school.     If  improperly  discharged 
against  the  orders  of  the  district,  they  will   be  reinstated  by  a  writ  of 
mandamus.     33  Conn.,  304-306. 

The  provision  as  to  new  certificate,  if  required  by  school  visitors,  applies 
only  to  certificates  limited  as  to  time  or  qualification.  36  Conn.,  282. 

A  school  district  contracting  with  a  teacher  who  has  an  old  certificate 
from  the  board  of  school  visitors,  without  requiring  a  new  one,  cannot 
afterwards  repudiate  the  contract  because  he  should  have  had  a  new 
one.  Id. 


66 

Teacher'toko  ^6C*    *^'      ^e  teaC^er  °^  everv  public   School   shall 

raster.  correctly  keep  the  school  register  provided  by  the  State, 
in  the  manner  and  form  required  by  the  State  Board  of 
Education,1  and  at  the  end  of  each  school  term,  and 
before  said  teacher  shall  leave  such  school,  shall  certify 
in  writing  to  the  correctness  of  the  same,  and  immedi- 
ately deliver  the  same  to  the  secretary  of  the  board  of 
school  visitors  or  town  school  committee  or  board  of 
education  of  the  town  or  district  in  which  such  school 
is  located ;  and  no  teacher  shall  be  entitled  to  receive 
any  pay  unless  such  register  shall  have  been  kept  and 
certified  during  the  time  for  which  any  payment  may  be 
made.2  8 


1  Sec.  2. 

2  School  visitors  shall  inspect  registers  twice  in  each  term.     Sec.  87. 

8  The  reasonableness  of  the  punishment  administered  by  a  school 
teacher  to  a  pupil  is  purely  a  question  of  fact.  53  Conn.,  481. 

A  school  teacher  has  a  right  to  require  obedience  to  reasonable  rules 
and  a  proper  submission  to  his  authority,  and  to  inflict  punishment  for 
disobedience.  Id. 

In  the  absence  of  rules  established  by  the  school  board  or  other  proper 
authority,  the  teacher  has  a  right  to  make  all  necessary  and  proper  rules 
for  the  regulation  of  the  school.  Id. 

In  inflicting  corporal  punishment  the  teacher  must  be  governed,  as  to 
the  mode  and  severity  of  it,  by  the  nature  of  the  offense,  and  by  the  age, 
size,  and  physical  condition  of  the  pupil.  Where  a  boy  has  been  habitu- 
ally refractory  and  disobedient,  the  teacher,  in  punishing  him  for  a  partic- 
ular offense,  may  take  into  consideration  his  habitual  disobedience.  Id. 

And  it  is  not  necessary  that  he  should  inform  the  pupil  at  the  time  that 
he  is  punishing  him  for  his  past  as  well  as  present  misconduct.  Id. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


Support  of  Public  Schools1 


[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  xxxv,  CHAPTER  CXLI,  PAGE  4841 


SECTION 

177.  Enumeration  of  children. 

178.  Enumeration   of    children   in    county 

homes. 

179.  Form  of  return  of  enumeration. 

180.  Penalty  for  refusal  to  give  age  of  child. 

181.  Correction  of   returns;   certificate   to 

Comptroller. 

182.  Distribution  of  income  of  school  fund 

and  State  appropriation. 

183.  Interest  of  school  fund  to  be  covered 

into  treasury. 

184.  Support  of  schools. 

185.  Deduction  where  schools  not  kept  ac- 

cording to  law. 

186.  Misapplication  of  school  moneys. 

187.  Town  deposit  fund. 

188.  School  society  and  district  funds. 

189.  Meeting  of  visitors  and  selectmen  as 

joint  board. 

190.  School  year. 

191.  Annual  statement  of  estimates  to  town 

meeting. 

192.  Time  of  payment  of  teachers,  mode  of 

payment  to  teachers,  etc. 


SECTION 

193.  Payment  of  teachers  and  certificate  of 

school  visitors. 

194.  Tax  in  city  school  districts. 

195.  Neglect  to  lay  town  school  tax. 

193.    Temporary  union  of  small  school  dis- 
tricts. 

197.  Small  schools,  discontinuance  of. 

198.  Transportation  of  children. 

199.  Expenses  of  transportation. 

200.  Extra  expenses  incurred  by  districts. 

201.  Report  of  enumeration,  etc.,  must  be 

made  before  district  is  entitled  to 
money. 

202.  Apportionment    to    districts    formed 

from  parts  of  two  or  more  towns. 

203.  Joint  districts,  expenses  of. 

204.  Forfeitures  may  be  remitted  by  State 

board. 

205.  Fraudulent  certificate  by  school  visit- 

ors. 

206.  School  expenses  for  inmates  of  tempo- 

rary homes,  how  provided. 

207.  Auditing  and   approval  of  such   ex- 

penses. 


See.  177.    The  committee  of   each   school  district,'  o. 
or  if  they  fail  or  are  unable  to  do  so,  the  clerk  shall,  fcnhXsation  °f 
in  October,  1899,  and  annually  thereafter  in  October, 
ascertain  the  name  and  age  of  every  person  over  four 
and  under  sixteen  years  of  age,  who  shall  belong  to 
such  district  on  the  first  Monday  of  said  month,  and  the 
place,  year,  and  month  when  such  person  last  attended 
school,  together  with  the  names  of  the  parents,  guard- 
ians, or  employers  of  such  person,  and  return  the  same  J^011-  xxvl» 
to  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  to  which  such  district 
belongs,3  on  or  before  the  twentieth  day  of  October. 

1  See  for  Towns  under  Consolidated  System,  sees.  168,  169.     Districts 
formed  from  societies.     Sec.  58. 

2  For  committee  of  districts  formed  from  school  societies.    Sec.  54. 
Town  committee.     Sec.  152.     District  committee.     Sec.  171. 

3  If  districts  formed  from  parts  of  two  or  more  towns.     Sec.  171. 


68 

And  in  making  such  enumeration,  children  tempora- 
rily residing1  in  one  district,  but  having  parents  or  guar- 
dians residing  in  another,  shall  be  enumerated  only  as 
belonging  to  the  latter  district. 

By  a  school  But  if  such  return  is  not  made  on  or  before  said  day, 

one  of  the  school  visitors  or  a  person  duly  appointed  by 

1889,  ch.  xxvi,    said  board  of  school  visitors  shall  make   a    complete 

enumeration  before  the  first  day  of  November  next  fol- 

189?  ch  i         lowing,  and  return  it  to  said  school  visitors,2  and  shall 

receive  therefor  five  cents  for  each  child  so  enumerated. 

is^ch.  ccxxii,       Sec.  178.    The  children  legally  committed  to  county 

Enumeration  Of  homes  shall  be  enumerated  in  the  districts  in  which  said 

county  homes,   county  homes  are  located,  as  provided  in  section  177,  but 

the  enumerator  shall  make  a  separate  list  of  the  children 

in  the  county  home,  and  certify  said  list  to  the  school 

visitors  of  the  town  as  provided  in  section  179. 

See.  1 79.  Such  return  shall  be  signed  by  the  person 
making  it,  and  sworn  to,  substantially,  according  to  the 
following  form  : 

I  hereby  certify  that  I  have  carefully  enumerated,  ac- 
cording to  law,  all  persons  between  the  ages  of  four  and 

sixteen  years,  within  the school  district,  and 

find  that  on  the  first  Monday  of  October,  A.  D. , 

xxvi'   ^nere  were  of  such  persons,  residing  in  and  belonging  to 

said  district,  the  number  of — .     A.  B. 

On  this day  of  A.  D. ,  personally 

appeared  the  above  named  A.  B.  and  made  oath  to 
the  truth  of  the  above  return  by  him  subscribed  before 
me. ,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


1  Sec.  2118,  Gen.  Stat.,  provides  that  the  public  schools  of  the  districts 
"  shall  be  open  to  all  children  over  four  years  of  age  in  the  respective  dis- 
tricts ;"  sec.  2224,  provides  for  the  enumeration  of  all  children  of  school 
age  "  who  shall  belong  to  such  district  ;"  and  sec.  2227  for  a  return  by 
the  enumerators  of  children  "  residing  within  the  school  districts."  Under 
these  sections  it  is  not  necessary  that  a  child  should  be  domiciled  in  the 
district,  but  enough  if  it  is  residing  in  the  district  in  the  ordinary  sense  of 
that  term. 

A  child  of  school  age,  whose  parents  resided  in  another  State,  but 
who  had  lived  for  several  years,  and  expected  to  continue  to  live,  in  a 
family  of  a  domiciled  resident  of  the  district,  was  entitled  to  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  district  school.  Yale  i-s.  West  Middle  School  District.  59 
Conn.,  489.  2  Sec.  90. 


69 

Sec.  180.  Any  person  having  control  of  a  child  0.  s.  sec.  stse. 
between  four  and  sixteen  years  of  age,  who  shall  will- 
fully  refuse  to  give  to  the  school  committee  or  other  per- 
son  employed  to  make  the  enumeration  required  by  this 
chapter,  the  name  and  age  of  such  child  and  such  inform- 
ation concerning  the  school  attendance  of  such  child  as 
said  chapter  requires,  shall  be  fined  three  dollars. 

Sec.  181.    The    school  visitors    of    the    town  shall  f> '•  s-  ««?•  «w- 
examine  and  correct  the  returns  made  to  them,  so  that  S552?00 
no  person  shall  be  enumerated  twice  in  different  districts 
or  be  improperly  returned,  and  lodge  them  as  corrected  ^%ch' xxvif 
with  the  town  treasurer.     They  shall  also  transmit  to  the 
Comptroller,1  on  or  before  the  fifth  day  of  December, 
annually,  a  certificate  in  which  the  number  of  persons 
shall  be  inserted  in  words  at  full  length,  which  shall  be 
sworn  to,  substantially,  according  to  the  following  form: 

We,  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  of ,  certify,  Form  of  certm- 

that  from  the  returns  made  to  us  under  oath,  as  by  law 
provided,  we  find  that  on  the  first  Monday  of  October,  iss9,4 ch.  xxvi, 

A.  D. ,  there  were  residing  within  the  school  dis- sc< 

tricts  belonging  to  said  town,  the  number  of per- 
sons between  four  and  sixteen  years  of  age  ;  and  from 
the  best  information  we  can  obtain,  we  truly  believe 
that  said  number  is  correct. 

[•  School  Visitors. 

On  this  — day  of  •  — ,  A.  D. ,  per- 
sonally appeared  the  above  named  school  visitors,  and 
made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  certificate,  by  them 
subscribed  ;  before  me, C.  D. 

Sec.  182.     The  income  of  the  school  fund,  which,  0-  s.sec.m8. 
after  deducting  all  expenses  attending  its  management,  S^omeof* 
shall  remain  in  the  treasury  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  Ictateappropru2 
February  in  each  year,  and  also  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents tlou< 
for  every  person  between  four  and  sixteen  years  of  age 
belonging  to  any  school  district,  as  ascertained  from  the 
last  returns  of  the  school  visitors,  shall  annually,  as  soon 
as  may  be  after  said  day,  be  divided  and  distributed  by 
the  Comptroller  among  the  several  towns,  in  proportion 


1  Sec.  90. 


70 

to  the  number  of  persons  in  each  between  the  ages  of 
four  and  sixteen  years,  as  ascertained  from  said  returns  r 
and  he  shall  transmit  the  amount  distributed  to  each 
town  to  its  treasurer,  on  the  application  of  its  school 
visitors  or  of  its  school  committee,  if  such  town  consti- 
tute but  one  school  district ;  but  no  such  money  shall  be 
transmitted  to  any  town  until  the  Comptroller  shall  have 
received  from  its  school  visitors  or  committee  a  certifi- 
cate, signed  by  them  or  their  chairman  and  secretary, 
and  substantially  in  the  following  form  : ' 

Form  of  certifl-       We,  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  of ,  certify 

troiier.  that  the  schools  in  said  town  have  been  kept  for  the 

period  required  by  law  during  the  year  ending  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  August a  last,  by  teachers  duly  examined  and 
approved,  and  have  been  visited  according  to  law  ;  and 
that  all  moneys  drawn  from  the  public  treasury  by  said 
town  for  said  year,  appropriated  to  schooling,  have  been 
faithfully  applied  and  expended  in  paying  for  teachers' 
wages,  and  for  no  other  purpose  whatever. 

Dated  at this  -  -  day  of 

A.  D. . 

I  School  Visitors. 


To  the  Comptroller. 

interest  of  the        See.  183.     On  the  first  day  of  March  of  each  year, 

£  t?ansfe"red°to  the  treasurer  shall  cover  the  interest  of  the  school  fund 

sury>     in  the  treasury  on  the  last  day  of  February  into  the  civil 

list  funds  of  the  State,  and  shall  notify  the  Comptroller 

and  commissioner  of  the  school  fund,  in  writing,  of  the 

amount  of  said  interest  so  covered  or  transferred. 

o.  s.  sec.  SMS.        See.  184.    The  Comptroller  shall  draw  all  orders  for 

schools1  °1       the  support  of  common  schools  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars 

and  twenty-five  cents  for  each  child,  and  the  enumera- 

tion last  made  and  perfected,  and  said  orders  shall  be 

payable  from  the  civil  list  funds  of  the  State. 

G.s.sec.Mso.        See.  185.     When  the  school  in  any  school  district 
shall  not  be  kept  according  to  law,3  the  school  visitors  of 
town  to  which  such  district  belongs  shall,  in  their 


•  Sec.  90.  a  Sec.  190. 

3  Sec.  90.     A  district  is  not  entitled  to  any  State  or  town  money  unless. 
schoolhouse  and  out-buildings  are  satisfactory  to  school  visitors.     Sec.  133. 


71 

certificate  or  certificates  to  the  Comptroller  for  the  year 
following,  state  such  fact,  and  also  the  number  of  children 
enumerated  in  such  district ;  and  when  application  is 
made  for  the  school  moneys  payable  to  such  town  for 
said  year,  he  shall  deduct  from  the  whole  number  of 
children  enumerated  in  such  town  the  number  contained 
in  such  district ;  and  shall  draw  an  order  for  such  part 
only  of  the  moneys  that  would  otherwise  go  to  said 
town,  as  is  proportioned  to  the  number  of  children  in  the 
remaining  districts  therein. 

Sec.  186.    If   any  money  appropriated  to    the  use  G.  s.  sec. 
of  schools  shall  be  applied  by  a  town  or  school  district 
to  any  other  purpose,  such  town  or  school  district  shall  moneys- 
forfeit  the  amount  thereof  to  the  State  ;    and  the  Comp- 
troller shall  sue  for  the  same  in  behalf  of  the  State,  to  be 
applied,  when  recovered,  to  the  use  of  schools. 

Sec.  187.     The  income   of  the  town. deposit    fund,  o.s. sec. zm. 
belonging  to  any  town,  and  of  any  other  town  fund  which  SmJn  dep°8it 
is  or  shall  be  established  or  appropriated  for  the  support 
of  public  schools  in  any  town,  shall  be  paid  annually  into 
the  town  treasury,   for  the  support  of  public  schools 
therein. 

Sec.  188.     The  income  of  any  fund  that  is  or  shall  G.  s.  sec.  ms. 
be  established  or  appropriated  for  the  support  of  public 
schools  in  any  school  district  or  school  society  existing  in funds- 
any  town,  shall  be  paid  annually  into  the  treasury  of  such 
district  or  society,  for  the  support  of  public  schools  there- 
in ;  but  if  such  district  or  society  shall  at  any  time  cease 
to  exist,  then  the  principal  of  said  fund  shall  be  paid  over 
to  the  school  fund  treasurer  of  the  town  ;    the  income 
thereof  to  be  applied  for  the  support  of  public  schools 
therein,  in  the  manner  prescribed  in  section  157. 

Sec.  189.    The  school  visitors  and  selectmen  in  each  o.s.s 
town  shall  meet  as  a  joint  board  on  the  third  Tuesday  JJ«?SS  wi 
of  June  in  each  year,  and  prepare  a  statement  showing  gJJ^8  J°int 
the  estimated  cost  of  each  and  all  the  public  schools  in  1393,  Ch. 
their  town,  for  the  next  succeeding  school  year,1  and  shall 
immediately  thereafter  notify  the  committees  of  the  re- 
spective school  districts  of  the  several  amounts  so  fixed. 

1  Sec    190. 


72 


O.  8.  sec.  tSSo. 
School  year. 
1889,  ch.  xlvii, 
*ec.  3. 


G.  S.  sec.  2236. 
Annual  state- 
ment of  esti- 
mates to  town 
meeting. 


Apportionment 
to  districts. 


Expenses  of 
school  districts 
exceeding  the 
•estimate. 


G.  S.  sec.  2237. 
Payments  to 
districts. 


This  section  shall  not  apply  to  towns  which  have  consol- 
idated their  school  districts. 

Sec.  1 90.  The  school  year  shall  commence  on  the  fif- 
teenth day  of  July,  and  end  on  the  fourteenth  day  of 
July. 

See.  191.  The  school  visitors  and  selectmen  in 
each  town  shall,  as  a  joint  board,  present  at  the  annual 
town  meeting  a  written  or  printed  statement  of  the  total 
cost  of  each  and  all  of  the  public  schools  in  such  town  for 
the  school  year  next  preceding,  and  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  such  schools  for  the  current  school  year.1 

Said  board  shall  also,  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  day 
of  October  in  each  year,  fix  the  several  amounts  which 
in  their  judgment  will  be  sufficient  to  pay  the  wages  of 
teachers  (including  board),  fuel,  and  the  incidental  ex- 
penses of  maintaining  the  schools  in  the  various  districts 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  such  town,  for  the  period 
during  the  current  year,  that  schools  are  required  by 
law,  or  by  vote  of  the  town,  to  be  maintained; 

And  shall  notify  the  respective  districts  of  the  sev- 
eral amounts  so  fixed; 

And  if  any  district,  by  contributing  the  teacher's 
board,  or  any  of  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  school, 
be  enabled  to  continue  its  school  beyond  the  time  re- 
quired by  law,  said  district  shall,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  board  of  school  visitors,  be  entitled  to  the  whole 
amount  so  fixed. 

See.  192.  Whenever  any  school  district  shall,  at 
its  annual  school  meeting,  neglect  to  fix  the  time  or 
period  for  the  payment  of  its  teachers,2  they  shall  be  paid 
at  the  end  of  each  school  month,  and  at  the  close  of  every 
such  month  or  period  for  the  payment  of  teachers,  and 
on  the  certificate  of  the  school  visitors  or  acting  visitor 
or  visitors3  that  the  schools  of  the  district  for  such  month 
or  period  have  been  kept  in  all  respects  according  to  law, 
the  selectmen  shall  draw  an  order  on  the  town  treasurer 
in  favor  of  such  district  for  a  sum  of  money  sufficient, 
and  no  more  than  sufficient,  to  pay  the  expenses  incurred 
by  such  district  for  said  month  or  period  for  the  wages 


1  Sees.  38,  152, 191, 192, 193. 


2  Sec.  114 


3  Sees.  87,  185. 


: 


teachers  (including  board),  fuel,    and  incidental  ex- 

iises,  if  the  expenses  incurred  by  the  district  for  the 
above-named  purposes,  during  the  school  year,1  do  not 
exceed  the  amount  fixed  upon  for  such  district  as  pro- 
vided in  this  chapter.  But  if  such  expenses  exceed  said 
amount,  the  joint  board  of  school  visitors  and  selectmen 
shall  meet,  on  or  before  the  fourteenth  day  of  July  in  board- 
each  year,  and  decide  whether  or  not  the  expenditure  in  1995,  ch.  ixxv. 
excess  of  the  amount  fixed  upon  was  necessary  to  main- 
tain the  school  or  schools  of  the  district  for  the  time  re- 
quired by  law.  If  said  board  shall  decide  that  such  ad- 
ditional expense  was  necessary,  the  selectmen  shall  draw 
an  order  on  the  town  treasurer  for  an  amount  sufficient 
to  pay  the  same;  but  if  said  joint  board  shall  decide  that 
such  additional  expense  was  not  necessary,  the  district 
shall  pay  it,  unless  the  town  otherwise  order.2 

Sec.  193.    Whenever  a  district  shall  vote  to  pay  its  o.s.sec  wss. 
teacher  or  teachers  oftener  than  once  each  term,3  and  forSSSand 
fixed  periods  of  not  less  than  four  weeks  each,  or  when,  sciioo? visitors, 
as  provided  in  the  preceding  section,  the  salary  of  teach- 
ers shall  be  payable  monthly,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
school  visitors,  or  acting  school  visitor  or  visitors,4  at  the 
close  of  each  of  the  aforesaid  periods  of  school  or  school 
months,  to  give  to  the  selectmen  a  certificate  stating 
whether  or  not  the  school  or  schools  of  the  district  have 
been  kept  in  all  respects  according  to  law  during  such 
period. 

Sec.  194.  No  town  which  includes  a  city  within  its  G.  s.  sec.  saw. 
limits  shall  be  required  to  expend  for  school  purposes  in  JSSocJ  districts, 
any  year  a  greater  sum  than  would  be  raised  by  a  tax  of 
ne  mill  on  its  grand  list,  if  said  city  is  organized  into 
ne  or  more  school  districts,  by  which  a  sum  has  been 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  public  schools  during  the 
year  in  which  such  tax  would  be  payable,  sufficient  with 
the  income  derived  from  other  sources  to  pay  the  wages 
of  teachers,  the  cost  of  fuel,  and  the  incidental  expenses 
of  the  public  schools  of  said  district  or  districts  for  at 
least  thirty-six  weeks  of  said  year;  provided,  that  said 
sum  shall  be  paid,  without  abatement,  on  or  before  the 
first  day  of  March  next  following  the  time  at  which  the 

1  Sec.  190.  »  Sec.  200.  3  Sec.  192.  4  Sec.  87. 


.     74 

town  tax  shall  have  become  due,  to  the  several  school 
districts  in  the  town,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
children  in  each,  at  the  last  preceding  enumeration, 
between  the  ages  of  four  and  sixteen  years. 

o.s.8tc.mo.  Sec.  195.  If  any  town  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to 
Swneschoo?y  provide  for  the  support  of  its  schools,  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  three  preceding  sections,  it  shall  for- 
feit to  the  State  a  sum  equal  to  the  amount  which  it 
was  by  said  provisions  required  to  raise  and  appropri- 
ate. 

G.  s.  sec.  SMI.        geCt  196.    When  the  number  of  scholars  in  any  dis- 
trict  for  any  term  of  school  shall  be  so  small  that,  in  the 


schools  in  dlf-      .      ,  „    ,  ,         ,  .    ,    .    ,     ,  ,  .     .  „ 

ferent  districts,  judgment  of  the  district,  the  maintenance  of  a  separate 
school  by  said  district  for  such  term  is  inexpedient,  such 
district  may,  for  such  term,  by  vote  unite  its  school 
with  the  school  of  an  adjoining  district,  or  districts. 
Such  union  of  schools  shall  be  made  only  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  or  towns  in 
which  the  districts  are  situated.  And  if  any  district 
shall  thus  unite  its  school  with  that  of  another  district 
or  districts,  it  shall  be  as  full  a  compliance  with  the  law, 
as  if  it  had  maintained  a  separate  school  for  the  time  re- 
quired by  law.  Whenever  the  school  in  any  district  is 
discontinued  on  account  of  the  small  number  of  its 
scholars,  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  having  jurisdic- 
tion over  such  district  shall  see  that  suitable  arrange- 
ments are  made  whereby  the  children  of  the  district  may 
attend  some  adjoining  school. 

^ee>  *^7.  When  the  number  of  scholars  in  any  dis- 
trict  f  or  any  term  of  school  shall  be  so  small  that  in  the 
judgment  of  the  school  visitors  the  maintenance  of  a 
separate  school  in  said  district  for  such  term  is  inex- 
pedient, said  board  of  school  visitors  may  unite  the 
school  of  such  district  with  the  school  of  an  adjoining 
district  or  districts,  and  when  the  school  of  any  district 
shall  thus  be  united  with  the  school  of  another  district 
or  districts,  it  shall  be  as  full  a  compliance  with  the  law 
as  if  said  district  had  maintained  a  separate  school  for 
the  time  required  by  law. 

secVh'  xcvil  ^ec*  *^8*  Whenever  an7  school  shall  be  discon- 
tinued under  the  provisions  of  section  196,  or  section 


75 

.97,  the  school  visitors  may  provide  transportation 
children  to  and  from  school. 

See.  199.    The  expenses  of  transportation,  when  ap- 
proved by  the  board  of  visitors,  shall  be  paid  by 
town  treasurer,  upon  the  order  of  the  selectmen. 

See.  200.    If  any  district  maintains  a  school  of  a,  o.  s.  tec.  saw 
higher  order  than  is  required  by  law,  and  thereby  incurs  ^cu^red^y1186 
increased  expense  for  its  school ;  or  if  any  district  shall districts- 
continue  its  school  for  a  longer  time  than  is  provided  for 
at  the  expense  of  the  town,  according  to  section  38,  or 
if  any  district  shall  expend  for  teachers'  wages  or  other 
purposes,  a  sum  which  the  school  visitors  and  selectmen 
deem  unnecessary  and  extravagant ; '   the  cost  of  such 
school,  above  the  sum  received  by  such  district  from  the 
town,  shall  be  paid  by  a  tax  laid  by  said  district.     Noth- 
ing, however,  in  this  Title  is  to  be  construed  as  forbid- 
ding the  payment  of  the  additional  expenses  of  continu- 
ing any  school  longer  than  the  time  required  by  law,  by 
voluntary  contribution,  or  by  tuition  charges. 

See.  201 .  No  district  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  any  o.  s.  sec.  MX 
money  from  the  State  or  town  in  any  year,  unless  the  iSuon,  etc. 
district  committee  shall  have  made,  on  or  before  the  fif- 
teenth day  of  September  preceding,  the  report  required  J 
by  section  171. 

Sec.  202.  The  income  from  the  school  fund  and  the  G.  s.  sec 
amount  of  the  annual  State  appropriation,  apportioned  £>pdS 
to  any  school  district  formed  from  parts  of  two  or  more 
towns,2  shall  be  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  town  hav- r 
ing  jurisdiction  over  such  district  under  the  provisions 
of  section  113  ;  and  the  expenses  of  the  school  in  such  dis- 
trict shall  be  paid  by  said  town,  in  the  same  manner  and 
on  the  same  conditions  as  if  said  district  lay  wholly 
within  it ;  but  during  September,  in  each  year,  the  school 
visitors  of  said  town  shall  ascertain  the  cost  of  maintain- 
ing said  school  for  the  year  ending  on  the  thirty-first  day 
of  the  preceding  August  ;3  not  including,  however,  in 
such  ascertainment,  the  amount  received  by  said  district 
from  any  fund  that  is  or  shall  be  established  or  granted 
for  the  support  of  public  schools  in  said  district ;  and, 
having  deducted  from  this  amount  the  sums  received  by 

1  Sec.  192.  '  Sees.  90.  113.  3  Sec.  190. 


76 

the  town  for  such  district  during  said  year  from  the 
school  fund  and  State  appropriation,  shall  apportion  the 
remainder  of  the  cost  of  such  school  among  the  towns  in 
which  such  district  lies,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
persons  between  the  ages  of  four  and  sixteen  years  each, 
as  ascertained  by  the  enumeration  made  in  the  October 
preceding,  according  to  the  provision  of  section  177,  and 
1889,  ch.  xxvi,  shall,  before  the  first  Monday  in  October,  present  a  copy 
of  said  apportionment  to  the  selectmen  of  each  of  said 
towns  ;  and  the  selectmen  of  the  town  or  towns  not  hav- 
ing jurisdiction  over  said  district  shall  cause  the  sums, 
thus  apportioned  to  their  respective  towns,  to  be  paid  to 
the  town  having  jurisdiction  over  said  district. 


issg,  ch.  cxxxui.       See.  203.    The  selectmen  of  any  town  schooling  chil- 

Joint  districts,  .  J  .  i  •    ,     •    ,    •  •••    i 

expenses  of.      dren  residing  in  another  town  and  in  a  district  in  which 

no  school  is  maintained,  may  ascertain  the  expense  of 

schooling  said  children  and  present  a  bill  of  said  expense 

to  the  selectmen  of  the  town   in  which  said  children 

reside.      If  the    town  schooling  children  shall  be    in- 

debted to  the  town  in  which  the  children  reside,  under 

the  provisions  of  section  202,  the  expense  ascertained 

as  provided  in  this  section  shall  be  deducted  from  the 

amount  of  said  indebtedness,  and  only  the  remainder 

shall  be  due  to  the  town  in  which  said  children  reside. 

a.  s.  sec.  MM.        See.  204.    In  all  cases  when  a  school  in  any  district 

ma*  beremitted  nas  ^een  or  shall  be  kept  during  a  portion  of  the  school 

by  state  board.  year>  \^  not  according  to  law,  or  when  for  any  other 

cause  there  has  been  or  shall  be  a  forfeiture  of  moneys 

accruing  from  the  school  fund  or  annual  State  appropria- 

tion, that  would  otherwise  have  been  paid  to  any  town 

or  school  district,  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Edu- 

cation shall,  on  application  from  such  town  or  school 

district,  examine  into  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  decide 

according  to  equity,  on  the  right  of  the  applicants  to 

receive  the  money  so  forfeited  ;  and  if  he  decides  in  favor 

of  such  right,  and  so  certifies  to  the  Comptroller,  the 

same  shall  be  paid  as  if  no  forfeiture  had  occurred. 

a.s.sec.me.        See.  205.     If  any  school  visitor  shall  fraudulently 

ScateUbyDt<  *'  make  or  join  in  making  any  false  certificate,  by  reason 

school  visitors.  of  which  money  ghall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  of  the- 

State,  he  shall  forfeit  sixty  dollars  to  the  State. 


77 


Sec.  206.     The    necessary   extra    expense    incurred  o.  s.  sec.  sees. 
by  any  town  or  school  district  in  providing  school  ac- 
commodations  and  instruction  for  the  inmates  of  any 
temporary  homes  located  therein,  shall  be  paid  by  theprovided' 
county  as  provided  by  law.1 

Sec.  207.    The    board  of    managers    of    temporary  o.  s.  sec.  SSGU. 
homes  in  any  county  shall  be  the  judge  of  what  are  nee-  ^*Jj[  *?d 
essary  extra  expenses,  under  the  preceding  section,  for  8UCh  expenses. 
school  accommodations  and  instruction  for  inmates  of 
temporary  homes  located  therein,  and  no  such  expense 
shall  be  allowed  or  collected  of  such  county  unless  it 
shall  have  been  incurred  with  the  approval  of  such  board 
of  managers,  nor  until  the  account  of  the  same  shall 
have  been  audited  and  approved  by  such  board. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
Sanitary  Provisions  and  Ventilation 


SECTION 

208.  School  houses  to   be  kept   clean   and 

wholesome. 

209.  Ventilation. 


SECTION 

210.  When  found  in  unsatisfactory  state. 

211.  Penalty. 

212.  Definition. 


See.    208.      Every   schoolhouse  shall  be  kept  in  a  1593, ch. 
cleanly  state  and  free  from  effluvia  arising  f rom ,  any  schooihouses  to 
drain,  privy,  or  other  nuisance,  and  shall  be  provided  an^wioilSome. 
with  a  sufficient  number  of  proper  water-closets,  earth- 
closets,  or  privies  -for  the  reasonable  use  of  the  pupils  at- 
tending such  schoolhouse. 

Sec.  209.    Every  schoolhouse  shall  be  ventilated  in  1393,  ch.  ccixv, 
such  a  manner  that  the  air  shall  not  be  injurious  to  the  ventilation. 
health  of  the  persons  present  therein. 

"To  provide  for  the  expenses  of  the  temporary  homes  in  excess  of 
the  sum  received  under  section  8657,  said  board  shall  present  annually  to 
the  county  representatives  and  resident  senators  of  such  county  an  estimate 
of  the  expense  of  such  homes  for  the  succeeding  year,  and  said  representa- 
tives and  senators  may,  and  in  case  sufficient  funds  are  not  already  in  the 
treasury  for  such  maintenance,  shall  at  their  biennial  meeting,  or  in  years 
in  which  no  biennial  meeting  is  held,  at  any  special  meeting  duly  called 
in  such  year,  lay  a  county  tax  for  the  maintenance  of  such  home  or  homes- 
in  their  county."  G.  S.,  sec.  3662. 


78 
1893,  en.  ccixv,        Sec.  210.    Whenever  it  shall  be  found  by  the  State 

B6C    3 

Board  of  Education  or  by  the  board  of  school  visitors  or 


school  committee  of  the  town  or  district  in  which  any 
schoolhouse  is  located,  that  further  or  different  sanitary 
provisions  or  means  of  lighting  or  ventilating  are  re- 
quired in  any  schoolhouse,  and  that  the  same  can  be 
provided  without  unreasonable  expense,  either  of  said 
boards  or  committees  may  recommend  to  the  person  or 
authority  in  charge  of  or  controlling  such  schoolhouse, 
such  changes  in,  or  other  and  further  means  of  ventilat- 
ing, lighting,  or  sanitary  provisions  for  such  schoolhouse 
as  they  may  deem  necessary.  In  case  such  changes  so 
recommended  be  not  made  substantially  as  recommended 
within  two  weeks  of  the  date  of  service  thereof,  such 
board  or  committee  may  make  complaint  to  the  board  of 
health,  health  committee,  or  health  officer  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  such  schoolhouse  is  situated,  and  said 
board  of  health,  health  officer,  or  health  committee, 
after  notice  to  and  hearing  of  all  the  parties  interested, 
shall  order  such  changes  in,  or  such  other  and  further 
provisions  made  in  the  lighting,  ventilating,  or  sanitary 
provisions  of  such  schoolhouse  as  they  may  deem  neces- 
sary and  proper. 

1893,  ch.  ccixv,        Sec.  211.    Any  person  violating  any  provision  of  the 
Penalty-          preceding  sections  shall  be  punished  in  the  manner  pro- 

vided in  section  2609  of  the  General  Statutes. 

1893,  ch.  ccixv,        See.  212.     The  word  schoolhouse  shall  be  held  to 

Definition.        mean  any  building  or  premises  in  which  instruction  is 

afforded  to  not  less  than  ten  pupils  at  one  time. 


79 


CHAPTER  XV 
Reformation   and    Care   of  Children 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  LXVII,  CHAPTER  ccxxv,  PAGE  800] 

This  chapter  consists  of  a  statement  of  the  substance  of  the  General 
Statutes  of  1888  and  subsequent  Public  Acts  relating  to  the  reformation 
and  care  of  children.  Reference  to  the  Sections  and  Acts  here  summarized 
will  be  found  in  the  side  notes. 

SECTION  I  SECTION 

213.  Connecticut  School  for  Boys.  215.    Temporary  Homes. 

214.  Connecticut  Industrial  School  for          216.    Deaf,  Dumb,  and  Blind. 

Girls.  I  217.    Imbecile  Children. 

THE  CONNECTICUT  SCHOOL  FOR  BOYS 

Sec.  21  3.     Any  boy  under  sixteen  years  of  age  guilty  G.^S.  ^s 
of  any  crime  or  misdemeanor  punishable  with  a  fine  or  PubiiC  Acts 


imprisonment,  other  than  imprisonment  for  life,  and  any 
boy  who  is  destitute  of  a  suitable  home,  and  is  being 
brought  up  to  lead  an  idle  and  vicious  life,  or  who  is 
incorrigible  and  disobeys  his  parents  or  guardian,  or  who  Paee472- 
resorts  to  immoral  places  or  practices,  or  neglects  or 
refuses  to  perform  labor  suitable  to  his  years  and  condi- 
tion or  to  attend  school,  may  be  committed  to  the  Con- 
necticut School  for  Boys,  by  a  judge  of  a  criminal  or 
police  court  or  by  a  justice  of  the  peace,  on  complaint  of 
any  informing  officer  or  of  any  person  having  knowledge 
of  the  case. 

THE  CONNECTICUT  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL  FOR  GIRLS 

Sec.  214.    Any  girl  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  g^**  ™; 
sixteen  years  who  has  committed  an  offense  within  fhe86^86^8659- 

«,..,.,.  *         •      \*  £    ^  i_       v  Public  Actsl893, 

final  jurisdiction  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  or  who  lives  ch.  cxxii. 

,  ,     J  ,  ,  ,,       Public  ActBl895, 

idly  and  mis-spends  her  time,  or  who  wanders  about  the  ch.  ixxi. 
streets  and  public  places,  having  no  lawful  occupation, 
and  not  attending  school,  or  who  leads  a  vagrant  and 
vicious  life,  or  is  in  manifest  danger  of  falling  into  habits 
of  vice,  may  be  committed  to  the  Connecticut  Industrial 
School  for  Girls  by  the  judge  of  a  court  of  probate,   a 
judge  of  a  police  court,  or  a  justice  of  the  peace,  on  com- 
plaint of  her  parent,  or  a  selectman  or  grand  juror,  or 
other  informing  officer  of  the  town  where  she  is  found. 
6 


80 

TEMPORARY  HOMES1 

&.s.  sec.  toss,  See.  215.  Children  under  eighteen  years  of  age  who 
public  Actsi889,  are  waifs,  strays,  or  are  in  charge  of  overseers  of  the 
phub™ctBi893,  poor,  or  whose  parents  are  prisoners,  drunkards,  or  pau 
Sxii™viii.  pers,  or  have  been  committed  to  hospitals,  almshouses, 
Public  Actsi895,  or  workhouses,  and  children  under  said  age  who  are  de- 
!'cccccxji;  serted,  neglected,  or  cruelly  treated,  may  be  placed  in 
the  temporary  homes  by  selectmen.  And  such  children 


fh  bccxActf?1897'  between  the  ages  of  four  and  eighteen  years,  may  be  com- 
mitted to  said  homes  by  a  court  of  probate,  a  judge  of 
a  city  or  police  borough  or  town  court,  on  petition  or 
information  of  a  parent,  a  selectman,  or  any  informing 
officer,  or  of  the  Connecticut  Humane  Society,  or  the 
State  Board  of  Charities.  Children  less  than  four  may 
be  placed  in  temporary  homes  by  overseers  of  the  poor 
if  the  management  consents  to  receive  them. 

DEAF  AND  DUMB  AND  BLIND 

Sec.  216.  [Provision  is  made  by  special  acts  for  the 
education  of  indigent  deaf-mutes  in  the  American  asylum 
at  Hartford,  and  in  the  Whipple  home  school  for  the  edu- 
cation of  deaf-mutes,  in  Groton.  Persons  desiring  the 
benefit  of  this  provision  must  make  application  to  the 
Governor  of  the  State.  (Special  Acts,  1837,  page  26  ; 
1874,  page  260.) 

Provision  is  also  made  by  law  for  the  education  of 
blind  children. 

See  chapter  clvi  of  the  Public  Acts  of  1893. 

The  Board  of  Education  of  the  Blind  has  charge  of 
this  provision.] 

IMBECILE    CHILDREN 

See.  217.  Indigent  imbecile  children  may  be  com- 
mitted to  the  school  at  Lakeville,  under  Section  489  of  the 
General  Statutes. 


i  See  sections  13-15. 


81 


CHAPTER  XVI 
Public  Libraries 

[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  v,  CHAPTER  xxm,  PAGE  34] 


SECTION 

233.  Directors  of  such  libraries  and  reading- 

rooms. 

234.  Powers  and  duties  of  directors. 

235.  Libraries    and   reading-rooms    estab- 

lished under  section  232  to  be  free. 
233.    Annual  report  to  be  made  by  directors- 

237.  City  councils  may  impose  penalties  for 

injuries  to   libraries  or  failure    to 
return  books. 

238.  Donations  for  such  libraries  may  be 

held  by  the  directors. 

239.  Towns  and  boroughs  may  lay  a  tax  for 

free  public    libraries  and  reading, 
rooms. 

240.  No  compensation  to  directors, 

241.  Session  laws  to  be  sent  to  each  free 

public  library. 

242.  Malicious  injury  to  books,  etc ,  of  a 

public  library. 


SECTION 

218.  Connecticut  Public  Library  Commit- 

tee. 

219.  Allowance  for  incidental  expenses. 

220.  Public    Library    Committee    to    give 

advice. 
821.    Appropriation  for  town  libraries. 

222.  How  paid. 

223.  No  discrimination  on  account  of  sex. 

224.  Keports  by  libraries. 

225.  Expenditures  by  Connecticut  Public 

Library  Committee. 

226.  Establishment    of    free   libraries   by 

towns. 

227.  Appropriations  by  towns,  etc.,  for  that 

purpose. 

228.  Bequests  and  donations. 

229.  Board  of  directors. 

230.  Election  of  directors. 

231.  Directors  receive  no  pay. 

232.  City  councils  may  establish  and  main- 

tain public    libraries  and  reading- 
rooms. 

See.  218.    The  State  Board  of  Education  shall 
nually  appoint  five  persons  who  shall  be  known  as  the  Connecticut' 

*  Public  Library 

Connecticut  Public  Library  Committee.  committee. 

Sec.  219.    No  member  of    said    library  committee  1898,  ch. 
shall  receive  any  compensation  for  his  services  as  such  All 
member,  but  the  committee  may  expend  a  sum  not  p™ses 
exceeding  five    hundred  dollars  annually  for    clerical  1895)  cb'  XX1V' 
assistance    and     incidental     and    necessary    expenses 
incurred  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties. 

Sec    220,    The  librarian  or  director  of  any  public  isos,  ch. 
library  and  the  teachers  of  any  public  school  may  ask  Public1         ' 


said  committee  for  advice  and  assistance  in  regard  to  the  g 
selection  and  purchase  of  books,  the  cataloguing  of  books 
and  any  other  matters  pertaining  to  the  maintenance  or 
administration  of  the  library,  and  the  committee  shall 
give  advice  and  assistance  in  regard  to  said  matters  so 
far  as  it  shall  find  it  practicable  to  do  so.  The  commit-  ReP°rt 
tee  shall  biennially  make  a  report  of  its  doings  to  the 
General  Assembly. 


82 

1893,  ch.  See.  221.     If  any  town  having  no  free  public  library 

shall  establish  a  free  public  library  and  shall  provide  for 
the  care,  custody,  and  distribution  of  books  and  for  the 
future  maintenance  and  increase  of  such  library  in  a 
manner  satisfactory  to  said  library  committee,  said  com- 
mittee is  hereby  authorized  to  expend  for  books  to  be 
selected  by  the  said  committee  a  sum  not  to  exceed  the 
amount  expended  by  the  said  town  for  the  establish- 
ment of  such  library  and  not  to  exceed  two  huoadred 
dollars. 

cixxVm'sec  11  Sec-  222'  The  Treasurer  of  the  State  shall  pay  the 
HOW  paid.  bills  incurred  under  this  act  upon  the  order  of  the 
secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education.  Said  board 
shall  keep  an  account  of  all  money  expended  under 
this  act,  and  the  Comptroller  shall  annually  audit  said 
account. 

cixxVm;  sec.  12.  See.  223.  No  person  shall  be  ineligible  by  reason  of 
tiondonCaccoun"t  sex  to  serve  on  the  board  of  directors  of  any  public 
of  sex.  library  or  on  the  Connecticut  Public  Library  Committee, 

r,  sec  i  See.  224.  The  libraries  established  under  the  pro- 
visions of  chapter  clxxviii  of  the  public  acts  of  1893, 
and  any  free  public  library  receiving  a  State  appropria- 
tion, shall  annually  make  a  report  to  the  Connecticut 
Public  Library  Committee. 

See.  225.    The  Connecticut  Public  Library  Commit- 

wv ?,  66C.  -v. 

Expenditures    tee  is  authorized  to  expend  annually  for  any  such  library 

by  Cpnnecticut  J  J  • 

committee™1"7  a  sum  no^  ^°  excee(i  "the  amount  annually  appropriated 
and  expended  by  the  town,  or  in  the  case  of  a  town 
whose  grand  list  does  not  exceed  six  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  the  amount  annually  appropriated  and  expended 
from  any  source,  for  the  increase  of  said  library,  and 
not  to  exceed  one  hundred  dollars,  the  said  sum  to  be 
expended  for  books  selected  by  said  committee. 

1893,  ch.  See.  226.     Any  town,  borough,  or  city  may  estab- 

clxxviii,  sec.  1.    ..   ,  ,  ,.       ,.,     '  ,.  ~        ,  .    ,  ,     ' 

Establishment  hsh  a  public  library,  the  use  of  which,  under  proper 
by  towns,  etc!68  regulations,  shall  be  free  to  its  inhabitants.  Any  town, 
borough,  or  city  may  expend  such  sum  of  money  as  may 
be  necessary  to  provide  and  furnish  suitable  rooms  or  a 
suitable  building  for  the  library  so  established  or  for  a 
previously  existing  public  library,  the  use  of  which  is 
free  to  its  inhabitants. 


83 

See.  227.  Any  town,  borough,  or  city  may  annually 
expend  such  sum  of  money  as  shall  be  necessary  for  the 
proper  maintenance  and  increase  of  a  public  library  ^hat  p'ur- 
within  its  limits  whose  use  is  free  to  its  inhabitants. 
Any  town  shall  have  power  at  any  meeting,  duly  called 
for  the  purpose,  to  fix  by  a  proper  by-law  the  amount 
which  shall  be  annually  expended  for  the  public  library 
therein.  The  treasurer  of  such  town  shall  thereafter  an- 
nually pay  upon  the  order  of  the  officer  designated  by 
the  directors  or  trustees  managing  its  public  library  the 
bills  incurred  for  the  maintenance  and  increase  of  said 
library,  not  exceeding  in  the  aggregate  the  sum  specified 
in  said  by-law.  The  town  clerk  may  deposit  in  a  public  Deposit  by  town 
library  within  his  town  any  books  other  than  records 
placed  by  law  or  otherwise  in  his  custody. 

Sec.  228,    Any  town,  borough,  or  city  may  receive,  Jga^cg.  ^  g 
hold,  and  manage  any  devise,  bequest,  or  donation  f or Bequestsand  ' 
the  establishment,  increase,  or  maintenance  of  a  public 
library  within  its  limits. 

Sec.  229.  In  the  absence  of  any  other  lawful  pro-  JgJ^h.  gec  4 
vision  for  the  management  of  a  public  library  in  any  Board  of  direct- 
town  or  borough,  the  said  town  or  borough  shall  elect  a 
board  of  directors  who  shall  manage  said  public  library. 
Said  board  may,  from  time  to  time,  make  by-laws  not  in- 
consistent with  the  laws  of  this  State  for  its  own  govern- 
ment, and  may  adopt  rules  controlling  the  use  of  the 
library  and  the  administration  of  its  affairs.  Said  board 
shall  have  the  exclusive  right  to  expend  according  to  its 
best  judgment  all  money  appropriated  by  the  town  or 
borough  for  the  library,  and  shall  have  control  of  the 
grounds,  buildings,  and  rooms  used  for  the  purposes  of 
the  library. 

See.  230.    The  first  election  of  directors  may  takei893,ch. 

ClXXYlllj  SCO*  5. 

place  at  any  meeting  of  the  town  or  borough  called  for  Election^ of 
that  purpose.  It  shall  first  be  determined  by  a  by-law  of 
the  town  to  be  adopted  at  this  meeting  what  the  number 
of  directors  constituting  said  board  shall  be,  such  num- 
ber to  be  in  all  cases  one  divisible  by  three.  One-third 
of  this  number  shall  then  be  elected  to  hold  office  until 
the  next  annual  meeting,  one-third  until  the  second  an- 
nual meeting,  and  the  remaining  one-third  until  the 


84 


1893,  ch. 
clxxviii,  sec.  6. 
Directors  re- 
ceive no  pay. 


Q.  8.  sec.  1U5. 
City  councils 
may  establish 
and  maintain 
public  libraries 
and  reading- 
rooms. 


G.  S.  sec.  1U6. 
Directors  of 
such  libraries 
and  reading- 
rooms. 


O.  S.  sec.  1M. 
Powers  and 
duties  of  direct- 
ors. 


third  annual  meeting  thereafter.  At  each  annual  meet- 
ing of  said  town  or  borough,  one-third  of  the  directors 
shall  be  elected  by  ballot  to  hold  office  for  three  years. 

Sec.  231.  No  director  of  a  public  librarj^  elected  as 
above  provided  shall  receive  compensation  for  any  serv- 
ices rendered  as  director. 

See.  232.  The  city  council  of  any  city  shall  have 
power  to  establish  and  maintain  a  public  library  and 
reading-room,  together  with  such  kindred  apartments 
and  facilities  as  said  council  shall  approve,  for  the  use 
and  benefit  of  such  city,  and  may  levy  a  tax  not  to  ex- 
ceed one  mill  and  one-half  of  a  mill  on  the  dollar  annually 
on  all  the  taxable  property  of  the  city;  such  tax  to  be 
levied  and  collected  in  the  same  manner  as  the  other 
taxes  of  said  city,  and  to  be  known  as  the  "Library 
Fund." 

See.  233.  When  any  city  council  shall  have  decided 
to  establish  and  maintain  a  public  library  and  reading- 
room  under  the  authority  granted  by  the  preceding 
section,  the  mayor  of  such  city  shall,  with  the  approval 
of  said  council,  appoint  a  board  of  nine  directors  for  the 
same,  chosen  from  the  citizens  at  large,  with  reference 
to  their  fitness  for  such  office  ;  and  not  more  than  one 
member  of  the  city  council  shall  be  a  member  of  said 
board.  Said  directors  shall  hold  office,  one-third  for  one 
year,  one-third  for  two  years,  and  one-third  for  three 
years,  from  the  first  day  of  July  following  their  appoint- 
ment, and  at  their  first  regular  meeting  shall  cast  lots 
for  their  respective  terms  ;  and  annually  thereafter  the 
mayor  shall,  before  the  first  day  of  July,  appoint  as 
before  three  directors,  to  take  the  place  of  the  retiring 
directors,  who  shall  hold  office  for  three  years  and  until 
their  successors  are  appointed.  The  mayor  may,  with 
the  consent  of  the  city  council,  remove  any  director  for 
misconduct  or  neglect  of  duty.  Vacancies  in  the  board 
of  directors,  occasioned  by  removal,  resignation,  or 
otherwise,  shall  be  reported  to  the  city  council,  and  be 
filled  in  the  same  manner  as  original  appointments. 

See.  234.  Said  directors  shall,  immediately  after 
their  appointment,  meet,  and  organize  by  the  election  of 
one  of  their  number  as  president,  and  by  the  election  of 


85 

such  other  officers  as  they  may  deem  necessary.  They 
shall  make  and  adopt  such  by-laws,  rules,  and  regula- 
tions, not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  the  State,  for 
their  own  guidance  and  for  the  government  of  the  library 
and  reading-room  as  may  be  expedient.  They  shall  have 
the  exclusive  control  of  the  expenditure  of  all  moneys 
collected  to  the  credit  of  the  library  fund,  and  of  the  con- 
struction of  any  library  building,  and  of  the  supervision, 
care,  and  custody  of  the  grounds,  rooms,  or  buildings 
constructed,  leased,  given,  or  set  apart  for  that  purpose  ; 
provided,  that  all  moneys  collected  and  received  for  such 
purpose  shall  be  placed  in  the  treasury  of  said  city,  to  the 
credit  of  the  "  Library  Fund,"  and  shall  be  kept  sepai  ate 
from  other  moneys  of  the  city,  and  shall  be  drawn  upon 
by  the  proper  officers  of  said  city,  upon  the  properly 
authenticated  vouchers  of  said  directors.  Said  board 
shall  have  power  to  purchase,  lease,  or  accept  grounds  ; 
to  erect,  lease,  or  occupy  an  appropriate  building  or 
buildings  for  the  use  of  said  library;  to  appoint  a  person 
of  suitable  learning,  ability,  and  experience  as  librarian, 
and  all  necessary  assistants,  and  fix  their  compensation; 
to  remove  such  appointees;  and  shall  in  general  carry 
out  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the  law,  in  establishing  and 
maintaining  a  public  library  and  reading-room,  together 
with  such  kindred  apartments  and  facilities  as  said 
council  shall  approve. 

See.  235.  Every  library  and  reading-room,  estab-  £• /•  f c-  *w 
lished  under  the  authority  granted  by  section  232,  shall 
be  forever  free  to  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city 
where  located,  always  subject  to  such  reasonable  rules tob 
and  regulations  as  the  board  of  directors  may  adopt,  in 
order  to  render  the  use  of  said  library  and  reading-room 
of  the  greatest  benefit  to  the  greatest  number;  and  said 
board  may  exclude  from  the  use  of  said  library  and  read- 
ing-room any  and  all  persons  who  shall  willfully  violate 
such  rules.  And  said  board  may  extend  the  privileges 
and  use  of  such  library  and  reading-room  to  persons 
residing  outside  of  such  city  in  this  State,  upon  such 
terms  and  conditions  as  said  board  may  from  time  to 
time  prescribe. 


86 

Sec.  236.  The  said  board  of  directors  shall  make,  on 
or  before  the  second  Monday  in  June,  an  annual  report 
to  the  city  council,  stating  the  condition  of  their  trust  on 
the  first  day  of  June  of  that  year,  the  various  sums  of 
money  received  from  the  library  fund  and  other  sources, 
and  how  such  moneys  have  been  expended,  and  for 
what  purposes;  the  number  of  books  and  periodicals  on 
hand;  the  number  added  by  purchase,  gift,  or  otherwise, 
during  the  year;  the  number  lost  or  missing;  the  num- 
ber of  visitors  attending;  the  number  of  books  loaned 
out,  and  the  general  character  of  such  books;  with  such 
other  statistics,  information,  and  suggestions  as  they 
may  deem  of  general  interest.  All  such  portions  of  said 
report  as  relate  to  the  receipt  and  expenditure  of  money, 
as  well  as  the  number  of  books  on  hand,  books  lost 
or  missing,  and  books  purchased,  shall  be  verified  by 
affidavit. 

o.s.  sec.  150.         gee.  237.    The  city  council  of  said  city  shall  have 
may  impose      po  wer  to  pass  ordinances  imposing  suitable  penalties  for 


punishment  of  persons  committing  injury  upon  such 
toe?eturfnbook8.  library,  or  the  grounds  or  other  property  thereof,  and  for 
injury  to,  or  failure  to  return,  any  book  belonging  to 
such*  library.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  librarian  or 
board  of  directors,  having  charge  or  control  of  such 
library  or  property,  to  post  up  in  one  or  more  conspicuous 
places  connected  therewith  a  printed  copy  of  this  section. 
And  justices  of  the  peace,  or  city  or  police  courts,  in  their 
respective  counties,  shall  have  jurisdiction  to  hear,  try, 
and  determine  all  prosecutions  under  this  section. 
G.  s.sec.  151.  §eCt  238.  Any  person  desiring  to  make  donations  of 

Donations  for  ,  /?        -i       i  r±> 

such  libraries    money,  personal  property,  or  real  estate  for  the  benefit 

Selectors.  7  of  such  library,  shall  have  the  right  to  vest  the  title  to 

such  donation  in  the  board  of  directors  of  such  library, 

to  be  held  and  controlled  when  accepted  by  such  board 

according  to  the  terms  of  the  deed,  gift,  cTevise,  or  be- 

quest of  such  property  ;  and  as  to  such  property  the  said 

board  shall  be  held  to  be  special  trustees. 

G.s.sec.153.          gec<  239.     When  fiftv  legal  voters  of  any  town  or 

Towns  and  bor-  .  ,       ,      ...  "....  .,  ,       ,         ,,    ,, 

oughs  may  lay  a  borough  shall  present  a  petition  to  the  clerk  of  the  town 
uc  Ubrariegana  or  borough,  asking  that  an  annual  tax  may  be  levied  for 
establishment  and  maintenance  of  a  free  public 


87 

library  and  reading-room  in  such  town  or  borough,  and 
shall  specify  in  their  petition  the  rate  of  taxation,  not  to 
exceed  three  mills  on  the  dollar,  such  clerk  shall,  in  the 
next  legal  notice  of  the  regular  annual  election  in  such 
town  or  borough,  give  notice  that  at  such  election  every 

legal  voter   may  vote  ' '  for  a mill   tax   for  a  free 

public  library  and  reading-room,"  or   "  against  a 

mill  tax  for  a  free  public  library  and  reading-room," 
specifying  in  such  notice  the  rate  of  taxation  mentioned 
in  said  petition  ;  and  if  the  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast 
in  such  town  or  borough  shall  be  "  for  the  tax  for  a  free 
public  library  and  reading-room,"  the  tax  specified  in 
such  notice  shall  be  levied  and  collected  in  the  same 
manner  as  other  general  taxes  of  said  town,  or  borough, 
and  shall  be  known  as  the  "  Library  Fund."  But  such 
tax  may  be  lessened  or  increased  within  the  three-mill 
limit,  or  made  to  cease  in  case  the  legal  voters  of  any 
such  town  or  borough  shall  so  determine  by  major  vote 
at  any  annual  election  held  therein ;  and  the  corporate 
authorities  of  such  town  or  borough  shall  have  and  may 
exercise  the  same  powers  relative  to  free  public  libraries 
and  reading-rooms  as  are  conferred  upon  the  corporate 
authorities  of  cities. 

See.  240.    "No  director  of  any  free  public  library  and  e.  s.  sec. 
reading-room,  established  under  the  provisions  of  ttos tion 
chapter  in  any  city,  town,  or  borough,  shall  receive  any 
compensation  for  any  services  rendered  as  such  director. 

Sec.  241.    The  Secretary  of  the  State  is  authorized  G.  s.  *&.  105. 
to  send  a  copy  of  the  laws  passed  by  the  General  Assem-  f0ef^h  free8 
bly  at  each  session,  together  with  the  legislative  docu-  Public  library, 
ments  and  journals,  to  each  free  library  which  shall  de- 
sire them. 

Sec.  242.    Every  person  who  shall  willfully  write  Q.S. sec.  ivss. 
upon,  injure,  or  destroy  any  book,  plate,  picture,  engrav-  to^Cok8,8etnc.?3 
ing  or  statue,  belonging  to  any  library  not  exclusively  a  Public  1librarr 
owned  by  himself,  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  five,  nor 
more  than  five  hundred  dollars. 

Every  person,  who  shall  willfully  detain  any  book, 
paper,  magazine,  pamphlet,  manuscript,  or  other  prop- 
erty belonging  to  any  town,  city,  law,  university,  col- 
lege, school,  or  other  public  or  incorporated  library  for 


i860,  ch.  civ.  thirty  days  after  notice  in  writing  from  the  librarian  of 
such  library,  sent  by  mail  or  otherwise  to  the  last  known 
or  registered  place  of  residence  of  such  person,  after  the 
expiration  of  the  time,  which  by  the  by-laws,  rules,  or 
regulations  of  such  library,  such  book,  paper,  magazine, 
pamphlet,  manuscript,  or  other  property  may  be  kept, 
shall  be  fined  not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  The  notice  herein  required  shall  bear  upon 
its  face  a  copy  of  this  act. 


G.  s.  sec.  3908. 
Tote  levied  on 


CHAPTER  XVII 
School  District  Taxes 


[GEN.  STAT.,  TITLE  LXXVI,  CHAPTER  CCXLIII,  PAGE 


SECTION 

243.  To  be  levied  on  what. 

244.  Certain  town  real  estate  not  exempt 

from  school  district  taxes,  when. 

245.  Assessment  of  real  estate  in  two  dis- 

tricts. 

246.  Board  of  relief,  how  constituted  ;  de- 

duction for  indebtedness. 

247.  Assessment  of  real  estate  omitted  from 

grand  list. 

248.  Of  land  sold  since  completion  of  grand 

list. 

249.  Mode  of  assessment 

250.  Taxes  to  be  laid  on  preceding  or  suc- 

ceeding year. 


SECTION 

251.  Correction  of  clerical  error. 

252.  Collectors  to  give  bonds. 

253.  Tax  book  to  be  open  to  public  inspec- 

tion. 

254.  Interest  on  unpaid  taxes. 

255.  Taxes  when  due. 

256.  Additional   remedy   for   collection  of 

taxes. 

257.  Form  of  tax  warrant. 

258.  Exemption  of   honorably   discharged 

soldiers,  sailors,  etc.,  from  taxation 
by  boards  of  relief  ;  and  pensioners; 
board  of  relief  to  file  list  of  exempts 
with  town  clerks. 


See.  243.  All  taxes  imposed  by  any  school  dis- 
^\\  be  levied  on  the  real  estate  situated  therein, 
and  the  ratable  personal  property  and  polls  of  those  per- 
sons who  belonged  to  said  district  at  the  time  of  laying 
such  tax,  which  polls  shall  be  set  in  the  list  at  one  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  and  upon  any  manufacturing  or  me- 
chanical business,  subject  to  taxation,  which  is  located 
or  carried  on  in  said  district,  not  including  therein  the 
value  of  any  real  estate  situated  out  of  the  district,  and 
also  upon  any  mercantile  business  carried  on  in  said 
district  by  any  person  or  persons  who  do  not  reside  in 
the  town  in  which  said  school  district  is  situated  and 


89 

neither  the  business  so  taxed,  nor  any  real  estate  in  said 
district,  shall  be  taxed  in  any  other  district. ' 

Sec.  244.    When  any  school  district,  having  within  o.  s.  sec.  sm. 
its  boundaries  any  town  almshouse  and  farm,  shall  im- 
pose  any  tax  for  the  purpose  of  building  or  repairing  its 
schoolhouse,  said  real  estate  owned  by  said  town  shall taxe8)  when> 
not  be  exempt  from  such  taxation. 

Sec.  245.     When  real  estate  in  any  district  is  so  en-  o.s.sec.  3910. 
tered  in  the  list  of  the  town  in  common  with  other  estate  reaTesStTin0* 
situated  out  of  said  district,  that  there  is  no  distinct two  districte- 
and  separate  value  put  by  the  assessors  upon  the  part 
lying  in  said  district,  one  or  more  of  the  assessors  of  the 
town  in  which  said  property  is  situated  shall,  on  applica- 
tion of  said  district,  value  said  part  of  said  estate,  and 
return  a  list  of  the  same  to  the  clerk  of  said  district;  and 
notice  of  such  valuation  and  of  the  meeting  of  the  asses- 
sors and  selectmen  hereafter  mentioned,  shall  be  given 
by  the  district  committee,  in  the  same  way  as  a  notice 
for  district  meetings.2 

Sec.  246.    At  the  end  of  ten  days  after  such  return  o.  s.  sec.  3911. 
of  said  list,  said  assessors  and  selectmen  shall  meet  in  how  co°nfstielief' 
such  place  as  said  committee  shall  designate  in  such  no- tllted- 
tice,  and  shall  have  the  same  power,  in  relation  to  such 
list,  that  the  board  of  relief  has  in  relation  to  town  lists; 
and  no  deduction  or  abatement  shall  be  made  on  account  Deductions  for 
of  the  indebtedness  of  the  owner  of  any  real  estate  so in( 
taxed,  unless  both  the  debtor  and  the  creditor  belong  to 
said  district,  and  the  debt  is  secured  by  a  mortgage  of 
real  estate  situated  therein ;  and  such  list,  when  perfected 
by  said  assessors  and  selectmen,  shall  be  lodged  with  the 
town  clerk;  and  said  valuation  shall  be  the  rule  of  taxa- 
tion for  said  estate,  by  said  district,  for  the  year  ensuing; 

1  Real  estate  in  any  district  is  taxable  there,  whether  the  owner  be- 
longs there  or  not.     11  Conn.,  486,  487;  4  Day,  382.— That  votes  impos- 
ing school  taxes,  if  inartificially  drawn,  will  be  favorably  construed,  see 
15  Conn.,  332. 

2  That  the  doings  of  assessors,  when  called  out  under  this  section,  will 
be  favorably  construed,  see  15  Conn.,  455,  456. 

"Buildings  or  portions  of  buildings  exclusively  occupied  as  colleges, 
academies,  churches,  or  public  schoolhouses  or  infirmaries"  are  exempt. 
Gen  Stat.,  p.  849,  sec.  3820. 


90 

and  said  assessors  shall  be  paid  by  said  district  a  reason- 
able compensation  for  their  services. 

G.  s.  sec.  S9K.        See.  247.    When  any  real  estate  in  any  district  has 

nSotato  omit-  not  been  put  into  the  town  list,  or,  when  any  polls  in  any 

ifsd.from  graild  district,  liable  to  taxation,  have  not  been  entered  in  said 

list,  one  or  more  of  the  assessors  of  the  town  in  which 

such  omission  has  occurred,  on  application  of  said  dis- 

trict, shall  value  such  real  estate,  and  make  a  list  of  said 

polls,  and  add  such  property  and  polls  to  the  list  of  the 

district. 

&.  s.  se-c.  3913.        See.  248.    When  a  district  lays  a  tax  on  the  town 

Sncencdompde-    list  last  completed,  and  the  title  to  any  real  estate  has 

tionof  gra       been  in  any  way  changed  between  the  first  day  of  Octo- 

ber next  preceding,  and  the  time  of  laying  said  tax,  one 

or  more  of  the  assessors  of  the  town  in  which  such 

change  of  property  has  occurred  on  application  of  such 

district,  shall  value  said  real  estate  in  the  name  of  the 

person  owning  it  at  the  time  of  laying  said  tax,  and  de- 

duct the  same  from  the  list  of  the  person  in  whose  name 

it  stood  on  the  town  list. 

Q.  s.  sec.  39ik.        See.  249.    The  assessors,  in  performing  the  duties 
Mode  of       is-  mentioned  in  the  two  preceding  sections,  shall  proceed 
in  the  manner  prescribed  for  assessing  real  estate  in 
section  245. 

G.  s.  sec.  3867.         See.  250.     Town,  society,  school  district,  and  high- 
i«Seon?ist  of    way  taxes  shall  be  laid  either  on  the  assessment  list  of 


1      the  town  last  before  or  on  that  next  thereafter  completed, 

and  be  payable  within  one  year  after  they  are  laid. 
G.  s.  sec.  3860.        See.  251.     Any  clerical  omission  or  mistake  in  the 
|eriStiemm     assessment  of  taxes  may  be  at  any  time  corrected  ac- 
cording to  the  fact,  by  the  assessors  or  board  of  relief, 
and  the  tax  shall  be  levied  and  collected  according  to 
such  corrected  assessment. 

o.s.sec.ss::.         See.  252.    Every  collector  of  taxes  shall,  before  he 

S°eebond8s!0     receives  any  such  warrant,  give  to  the  community  of 

which  he  is  collector  a  bond  with  surety  to  the  accept- 

ance of  the  selectmen,  or  committee,  for  the  faithful  dis- 

charge of  his  duties. 

G.  s.  sec.  SB?*.        See.  253.    The  tax-book  of  any  collector  of  town, 

tcfpubS?8  '  en  city,  borough,  or  school  district  taxes  shall  be  at  all  rea- 

sonable times  open  to  the  inspection  of  any  taxpayer,  and 


91 

to  any  auditor  of  public  accounts  of  such  town,  city,  bor- 
ough, or  school  district.  And  any  collector  who  shall, 
after  request,  refuse  to  exhibit  his  tax -book,  as  aforesaid, 
shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  the  use  of 
the  treasury  of  such  town,  city,  borough,  or  school  dis- 
trict, and  such  penalty  may  be  recovered  by  an  action  on 
such  collector's  official  bond. 

Sec.  254.  ...  If  any  tax  laid  by  any  town,  city,  G.  s. 
borough,  or  school  district,  except  the  town  and  city  of  pa 
New  Haven,  and  any  school  district  within  the  limits  of 
said  town  of  New  Haven,  shall  remain  unpaid  for  one 
month,  or  in  said  town  or  city  of  New  Haven,  or  in  any 
school  district  within  the  limits  of  said  town  of  New 
Haven  for  two  months,  after  the  same  shall  become  due 
and  payable,  interest  at  the  rate  of  nine  per  cent,  shall 
be  charged  from  the  time  when  such  tax  became  due 
until  the  same  shall  be  paid,  which  shall  be  collectible  as 
a  part  of  said  tax;  and  said  collectors  shall  keep  an 
accurate  and  separate  account  of  all  such  additions,  and 
the  time  when  the  same  may  be  received,  and  shall  pay 
over  the  same  as  a  part  of  said  tax. 

Sec.  255.    Taxes  shall  be  deemed  to  become  due  on  G.  s.  sec.  ssss. 
the  first  day  on  which  the  collector  thereof,  according  to  ^8C  when 
the  terms  of  the  notice  given  by  him,  is  ready  to  receive  due- 
them. 

Sec.  256.    All  taxes,  properly  assessed,  shall  become  a  G.  s.  sec.  swi. 

,    ,   ,    ,         „  . .  ,  Additional  rem 

debt  due  from  the  person,  persons,  or  corporation,  against  edy  for  coiiec- 

,.  x-       i  •/  tion  of  taxes. 

whom  they  are  respectively  assessed,  to  the  city,  town, 
district,  or  community  in  whose  favor  they  are  assessed, 
and  may  be  in  addition  to  the  other  remedies  provided  by 
law,  recovered  by  any  proper  complaint  or  proceeding 
at  law,  in  the  name  of  the  community  in  whose  favor 
they  are  assessed. 

See.  257.    Warrants  for  the  collection  of  taxes  may  a.  s.  sec.  3007. 
be  in  the  following  form  : 

To  A.  B.,  collector  of  taxes  of  the  [here  insert  the  name 
of  the  community  laying  the  tax],  in  the  county  of  -  — , 
greeting  : 

By  authority  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  you  are 
hereby  commanded  forthwith  to  collect  of  each  person 
named  in  the  annexed  list,  his  proportion  of  the  same,  as 


Form  of  tax 
warrants. 


92 

therein  stated,  being  a  tax  laid  by  [name  of  community], 
on  the  -  —  day  of  --  ,  A.  D.  18—.  And  you  are  to 
pay  the  amount  of  said  tax,  less  abatements,  and  less 
taxes,  the  lien  for  which  has  been  continued  by  certifi- 
cate, to  the  treasurer  of  said  [name  of  community],  on  or 
before  the  -  day  of  -  ,  A.  D.  18  —  .  And  if  any 
person  fails  to  pay  his  proportion  of  said  tax,  upon  de- 
mand, you  are  to  levy  upon  his  goods  and  chattels,  and 
dispose  of  the  same  as  the  law  directs  ;  and  after  satisfy- 
ing said  tax  and  the  lawful  charges,  return  the  overplus, 
if  any,  to  him  ;  and  if  such  goods  and  chattels  do  not 
come  to  your  knowledge,  you  are  to  levy  upon  his  real 
estate,  and  sell  enough  thereof  to  pay  his  tax  and  the 
costs  of  levy,  and  give  to  the  purchaser  a  deed  thereof, 
or  take  the  body  of  said  person  and  him  commit  unto  the 
keeper  of  the  jail  of  said  county  within  the  prison,  who 
is  hereby  commanded  to  receive  and  safely  keep  him 
until  he  shall  pay  said  sum,  together  with  your  fees,  or 
be  discharged  in  due  course  of  law. 

Dated  at  -  ,  this  -       -  day  of  --  ,  A.  D.  18—. 

A.  B.  ,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


E8lemcbtionof  ^6C'  ^^'  ^^e  ^oar(l  °f  relief  for  each  town  shall 
honorably11  °dis-  exempt  from  taxation,  to  the  amount  of  one  thousand 
dierg,  sailors,  dollars,  the  property  of  every  resident  of  this  State  who 

etc.,  from  taxa-  ,  ,   .        .  , 

tion  by  boards  has  served  in  the  army,  navy,  marine  corps,  or  revenue 
marine  service  of  the  United  States  in  time  of  war  and 

Btoneni  pen"  received  an  honorable  discharge  therefrom,  or,  lacking 
such  amount  of  property  in  his  own  name,  so  much  of 
the  property  of  the  wife  of  any  such  person  as  shall  be 
necessary  to  equal  said  amount  ;  and  property  to  the 
same  amount  of  the  resident  widow  ;  or,  if  there  be  no- 
widow,  of  the  widowed  mother  of  every  person  having 
died  during  his  term  of  service,  or  after  receiving  honor- 
able discharge  from  said  service  ;  and  of  resident  pen- 
sioned widows,  fathers,  and  mothers  of  soldiers,  sailors, 
and  marines,  who  served  in  the  army,  navy,  or  marine 
corps,  or  revenue  marine  service  of  the  United  States. 
Such  exemption  shall  first  be  made  in  the  town  in  which 
the  person  entitled  thereto  resides,  and  any  person  ask- 
ing such  exemption  in  any  other  town  shall  make  oath 
before,  or  forward  his  or  her  affidavit  to,  the  board  of 


relief  of  such  town  that  such  exemption,  if  allowed,  will 
not,  together  with  any  other  exemptions  which  may  have 
been  granted  under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  exceed 
the  amount  of  one  thousand  dollars.     The  board  of  relief 
of  each  town  shall  annually  make  a  certified  list  of  all 
persons,  resident  in  such  town,  who  are  found  to  be  en- 
titled to  exemption  under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  Board  of  relief 
which  shall  be  filed  in  the  town  clerk's  office,  and  shall  emptVwith^ 
be  prima  facie  evidence  that  such  persons  are  entitled  toto 
such  exemption  so  long  as  they  reside  in  said  town  ;  but 
such  board  may  at  any  time  require  any  such  person  to 
appear  before  it  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  additional 
evidence. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


General  Provisions 


SECTION 

259.  Arbor  and  bird  day. 

260.  School  officers  on  each  ballot. 

261.  Ballots  in  any  envelope. 

262.  Women  may  be  school  visitors. 

263.  Women  may  vote  for  school  officers. 

264.  Kegistration. 

265.  Separate  voting  lists. 
26G.    "Women's  ballots." 

267.  Public  buildings. 

268.  Warnings. 

269.  Moderator  ;  tie  vote. 

270.  Power  of  moderator  to  suppress  dis- 

order. 

271.  Flags   upon    public    buildings    and 

schoolhouses. 

272.  Penalty  for  violation. 

273.  Unlawful  exhibition  and  employment 

of   child  under  the  age  of  twelve 
years. 


SECTION 

274.  Minors  not  to  loiter  or  play  in  pool  or 

billiard  rooms  ;  penalty. 

275.  Injury  to  public  buildings  or  furniture. 

276.  Breaking  and  entering  in  the  day  or 

night  season  with  intent  to  put  in 
fear,  etc. 

277.  Breaking  and  entering  in  the  daytime 

with  intent  to  commit  crime. 

278.  Penalty. 

279.  Interrupting  or  disturbing  schools  or 

meetings. 

280.  Disturbance  of  meetings. 

281.  Obscene  literature,  etc. 

282.  Books  and  periodicals  devoted  wholly 

to  criminal  news. 

283.  Public  buildings  to  be  provided  with 

safe  exits. 

284.  Barbed  wire  fences. 

285.  Penalty. 


ARBOR  DAY 

Sec  259.    The  Governor  shall  annually,  in  the  spring,  o.  s.  sec.  use. 
designate  by  official  proclamation,  an  arbor  and  bir 
day,  to  be  observed  in  the  schools  and  for  economic 
tree-planting. 


94 

BALLOTS 

le?2.ch' ccvii'         See.  260.     Votes  cast  for  representatives,  justices  of 

onheach°Sneots   tne  Pe&ce,  town,  city,  borough,  and  school  officers,  or  so 

many  thereof  as  shall  be  voted  for  at  one  and  the  same 

election,  shall  be  on  one  ballot,  which  ballot  shall  be  six 

inches  long  by  five  and  one-half  inches  wide. 

i899,ch.  ccvii,  gee.  261.  Each  elector  may  place  in  the  envelope 
any  receive(i  by  him  .  .  .  one  ballot  for  representative 
or  representatives,  as  the  case  may  be,  justices  of  the 
peace,  town,  city,  borough,  and  school  officers,  or  so 
many  thereof  as  shall  be  voted  for  at  one  and  the 
same  election,  and  one  vote  for  or  against  any  educa- 
tional purpose  under  the  special  laws  of  this  State. 

WOMEN 

as.tec.tioi.  See.  262.  No  person  shall  be  deemed  ineligible  to 
SSrofflSre?8  serve  as  a  member  of  any  board  of  education,  board  of 
1887,  ch.  cxxxvi.  school  visitors,  school  committee,  or  district  committee,  or 

disqualified  from  holding  such  office  by  reason  of  sex. 

less^ch.  ccixvi,       §ec>  263.     Every  woman  who  shall  have  attained  the 

^tT^rTchooi  a^e  of  twenty-one  years,  who  shall  be  a  citizen  of  this 

officers.  State,  or  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  have  resided 

in  the  State  one  year,  and  in  the  town  for  six  months, 

and  can  read  the  English  language,  shall  have  the  right 

to  vote  at  any  meeting  held  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 

any  officer  of  schools  or  for  any  educational  purpose 

under  the  general  or  special  laws  of  this  State. 

8ecVh' cxh'         See.  264.    Every    woman  who    is  entitled  to  vote 

Names  of         under  any  of  the  special  or  general  laws  of  this  State 

to°beemader"IK  must  first  have  her  name  published  on  the  list  of  voters 

pubTisheabe       "to  be  made  "and  qualify  before  the  proper  board  the 

same  as  is  required,  by  law,  of  men. 

1893,  ch.  ccixvi,  See.  265.  Whenever,  in  any  school  district,  registry 
separate  voting  lists  shall  be  used  by  those  voting  in  school  district  meet- 
ings, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  registrars  of  voters  of 
the  town  in  which  such  districts  are  situated  to  prepare 
separate  lists  of  the  names  of  those  women  residing  in 
such  school  districts,  or  the  voting  districts  of  any  such 
school  districts,  that  have  been  registered  by  the  town 
clerk  under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 


95 

See.  266.    At  all  elections  at  which  women  are  by  isw,  ch. ccvii, 
law  entitled  to  vote,   there  shall  be  provided  separate  women's 
ballots  containing,  in  addition  to  the  name  of  the  party  ballots 
issuing  the  same,  only  the  names  of  candidates  and 
offices  for  which  women  are  entitled  to  vote,  and  there 
shall  be  provided  at  such  elections  a  separate  ballot-box  ^XuSxes 
distinctly  marked  "for  women's  ballots,"  in  which  shall 
be  deposited  all  ballots  cast  by  women. 

PUBLIC   BUILDINGS 

See.  267.    In  the  construction  of  all  statutes  of  this  &.  s.  sec.  i. 
State,  the  term  "public  buildings"  shall  include  .  .  any fngb8Ucl 
college,  academy,  schoolhouse,  or  other  building  gener- 
ally used  for  literary  instruction. 

WARNINGS 

See.  268.     The  warning  of  every  town  meeting,  an-  o.  s.sec.  ss. 
nual  or  special,  and  of  every  meeting  of  a  city,  borough, w 
school  society,  school  district,1  or  other  public  commu- 
nity, or  of  an  ecclesiastical  society,  or  of  proprietors  of 
common  fields,  shall  specify  the  objects  for  which  such 
meeting  is  to  be  held.     .     .2 

MODERATOR 

See.  269.    .     .     All  towns  when  lawfully  assembled  o-  &  sec. SB 
for  any  other  purpose  than  the  election  of  town  officers,  M 
and  all  societies  and  other  communities,  when  lawfully 
assembled,  shall  have  power  to  choose  a  moderator  to 
preside  at  said  meetings,  unless  it  be  otherwise  specially 
provided  by  law  ;  and  all  questions  arising  in  such  meet-  Tie  vote, 
ings  shall  be  decided  by  a  major  vote  of  the  qualified 
voters  present  and  voting,  or,  when  there  shall  be  an 
equal  vote,  by  the  moderator. 

1  Sec.  116. 

*  The  objects  must  be  intelligently  stated.  13  Conn.,  234.—  The  gen- 
eral clause  "  and  to  do  any  other  proper  business  "  does  not  justify  pass- 
ing new  by-laws.  5  Conn.,  396;  8  Conn.,  253;  37,  398.— Record  of  a 
meeting  as  "  duly  warned  "  prima  facie  evidence  of  such  fact.  25  Conn., 
563. 


96 

o.s.  sec.  52.  See.  270.     The  moderator  of  any  town  meeting,  an  - 

to  sup?"  nual  or  special,  and  of  any  meeting  of  any  society  or 


Jer'  other  community  lawfully  assembled,  may,  when  any 
disorder  arises  in  the  meeting,  and  the  offender  shall  re- 
fuse to  submit  to  his  lawful  authority,  order  any  proper 
officer  to  take  him  into  custody,  and,  if  necessary,  to  re- 
move him  out  of  such  meeting  until  he  shall  conform  to 
order,  or,  if  need  be,  until  such  meeting  shall  be  closed, 
and  thereupon  such  officer  shall  have  power  to  command 
all  necessary  assistance,  and  any  person  refusing  to  as- 
sist when  commanded  shall  be  liable  to  the  same  penal- 
ties as  for  refusing  to  assist  sheriffs  and  constables  in 
the  execution  of  their  offices  ;  but  no  person  com- 
manded to  assist  shall  be  deprived  of  his  right  to  act  in 
the  meeting,  nor  shall  the  offender  be  so  deprived  any 
longer  than  he  refuses  to  conform  to  order 

FLAGS  UPON  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  SCHOOLHOUSES. 

is^ch.  ixxxiv,       gee.  271.    It  shall  be  unlawful  to  display  the  flag  or 

unlawful  to  di*.  emblem  of  any  foreign  country  upon  the  outside  of  any 

flagyf°  state,  county,  city,  or  town  building,  or  public  school- 

house  within  this  State  ;  provided,  however,  that  when 

any  foreigner  shall  become  the  guest  of    the  United 

States,  or  of  this  State,  iipon  proclamation  by  the  gov- 

ernor, the  flag  of  the  country  of  which  such  public  guest 

shall  be  a  citizen  may  be  displayed  upon  public  build- 

ings, but  not  upon  public  schoolhouses. 

1895,  en.  ixxxiv,       Sec.  272.    A  violation  of  this  act  shall  subject  the 


Penalty  for  vio-  offender  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  nor  more 
than  one  hundred  dollars. 

OFFENSES   AGAINST   THE   PERSON 

G.s.sec.ui7.         See.  273.    Every  person  who  shall  exhibit,  use,  em- 


>  apprentice,  give  away,  let  out,  or  otherwise  dispose 
cni^  under  the  age  of  twelve  years,  in  or  for  the 
age  of  12  years,  vocation,  occupation,  service,  or  purpose  of  rope  or  wire 
walking,  dancing,  skating,  bicycling,  or  peddling,  or  as  a 
gymnast,  contortionist,  rider,  or  acrobat,  in   any  place 
whatever,  or  for  or  in  any  obscene,  indecent,  or  immoral 
purpose,  exhibition,  or  practice,  whatsoever  ;  or  for  or  in 


97 

any  business,  exhibition,  or  vocation,  injurious  to  the 
health,  or  dangerous  to  the  life  or  limb  of  such  child  ;  or 
who  shall  cause,  procure,  or  encourage  any  such  child  to 
engage  therein,  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  less  than  thirty  days, 
nor  more  than  one  year,  or  both.  But  nothing  herein 
shall  prevent  the  employment  of  any  such  child  as  a 
singer  or  musician,  in  any  church  or  school,  or  in  learn- 
ing or  teaching  the  science  or  practice  of  music. 

x  MINORS  '   IN  POOL  OR  BILLIARD   ROOMS 

Sec.  274.    The   proprietor  or  keeper  of  any  public  & ; 
pool  or  billiard  room,  who  shall  permit  any  minor  under  loiter 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  to  loiter  in  or  about  such  room,  ?oom?  bl 
or  to  play  any  game  upon  the  table  or  tables  therein, 
shall  be  fined  not  more  than  seven  dollars. 

OFFENSES  AGAINST  PUBLIC   PROPERTY 

Sec.  275.    Every  person  who  shall  willfully8  injure  G.  s.  sec.  ws. 
any  public  building,  house  of  public  worship,  college,  or  Hcj 
schoolhouse,  or  who  shall  willfully  injure  or  carry  away fmuiture 
any  stove,  stovepipe,  or  furniture,  in  and  belonging  to 
any  such  building,  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  twenty 
dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  more  than  ninety  days,   or 
both. 

OFFENSES  AGAINST   PRIVATE   PROPERTY 

Sec.  276.  Every  person  who,  in  the  night  season, 
with  intent  to  commit  any  crime  therein,  shall  break  and 
enter  any  building  or  vessel  in  the  possession  of  another  jjfion,  wfuf 
used  as  a  place  for  the  custody  of  property,  or  any  build - 
ing  used  as  a  place  of  instruction  or  of  public  worship  ; 
or,  in  the  daytime,  with  like  intent,  shall  break  and 
enter  any  building  or  vessel  in  the  possession  of  another 
used  as  a  dwelling  ;  or,  in  the  daytime,  with  like  intent, 
shall  break  and  enter  any  building  in  the  possession  of 
another,  any  person  therein  being  put  in  fear  or  dread, 

1  See  also  Gen.  Stat.,  sees.  3080  and  3092. 

'The  word  willfully  means  that  the  injury  must  have  been  committed 
in  a  spirit  of  wantonness,  or  with  an  evil  intent,  or  guilty  purpose.  State 
v.  Foote,  71  Conn.,  737. 


shall  be  imprisoned  in  the  State  prison  not  more  than 
four  years. 

a.  s.  sec.  ikki.  Sec.  277.  Every  person  who,  in  the  daytime,  with 
intent  to  commit  any  crime  therein,  shall  break  and 
enter  any  building  or  vessel  in  the  possession  of  another 
used  as  a  place  for  the  custody  of  property,  or  any  build- 
ing used  as  a  place  of  instruction  or  of  public  worship, 
shall  be  imprisoned  not  more  than  three  years. 
G.  s.  sec.  IMS.  See.  278.  Every  person  who  shall  attempt  to  vio- 
late any  of  the  provisions  of  the  two  preceding  sections 
shall  be  imprisoned  not  more  than  two  years. 

o.  s.  sec.  woo.         See.  279.     Every  person  who  shall  willfully  inter- 

d2fiiSSing  °rrupt  or  disturb  any  school,  or  any  assembly  of  people 

meeting**        met  for  a  lawful  purpose,  shall  be  fined  not  more  than 

seven  dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  more  than  thirty  days, 

or  both.1 

OFFENSES   AGAINST  PUBLIC  PEACE  AND   SAFETY 

Q.  s.  sec.  mo.  See.  280.  Every  person  who  shall  prevent  a  law- 
mee5ngance  f  ful  meeting  of  any  community  from  proceeding,  in  an 
orderly  and  peaceable  manner,  to  the  appointment  of  a 
moderator,  or  shall  abuse  him,  or  a  presiding  officer  of 
an  electors'  meeting,  or  interrupt  either  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty,  or,  after  he  has  commanded  silence,  shall 
speak  in  the  meeting  without  his  liberty,  except  to  ask 
reasonable  liberty  to  speak,  shall  be  fined  not  more  than 
fifty  dollars. 

OFFENSES   AGAINST   MORALITY 

G.  s.  sec.  1537.  See.  281.  Every  person  who  shall  buy,  sell,  adver- 
turec eentc.litera"  tise>  lend,  giye>  offer,  or  show,  or  have  in  his  possession 
with  intent  to  sell,  lend,  give,  offer,  or  show  any  obscene 
or  indecent  book,  pamphlet,  paper,  picture,  print,  draw- 
ing, figure,  image,  or  other  engraved,  printed,  or  written 
matter,  or  any  article  or  instrument  of  indecent  or  im- 
moral use  or  purpose,  unless  with  intent  to  aid  in  their 
suppression,  or  in  enforcing  the  provisions  hereof,  or 
shall  design,  copy,  draw,  photograph,  print,  etch,  en- 


'This  section  includes  singing  schools.     26  Conn.,  607.— What  con- 
stitutes a  school.     23  Conn. ,  232. 


99 

grave,  cut,  carve,  make,  utter,  publish,  or  otherwise  pre- 
pare, or  assist  in  preparing,  anything  herein  named,  shall 
be  fined  not  more  than  three  hundred  dollars,  or  impris- 
oned in  a  jail  not  more  than  twelve  months,  or  both. 

See.  282.    Every  person  who  shall  sell,  lend,  give,  <*• s- sec- m8- 

,  .,.  .  -AI_   •    x       a.  x  n    i        j    Books  and  peri- 

or  offer,  or  have  in  his  possession  with  intent  to  sell,  lend,  odicais  devoted 
give,  or  offer,  any  book,  magazine,  pamphlet,  or  paper,  nauiews! cr 
devoted  wholly,  or  principally,  to  the  publication  of  crim- 
inal news  or  pictures,  and  stories  of  deeds  of  bloodshed, 
lust,  or  crime,  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  fifty  dollars, 
or  imprisoned  not  more  than  three  months,  or  both. 

PUBLIC   HEALTH  AND   SAFETY 

Sec.  283.     In  all  cities  the  court  of  common  council,  &•  s.^tets. 
in  all  boroughs  the  warden  and  burgesses,  and  in  all  f0Ube  provS8 
towns  and  parts  of  towns  not  within  the  limits  of  any  city  with  8afe ' 
or  borough,  the  selectmen  shall  require  that  all  churches, 
schoolhouses,  and  all  public  halls  that  are  used  for  lec- 
tures, amusements,  exhibitions,  or  assemblages  of  people, 
shall  be  provided  with  ample  facilities  for  safe  and  speedy 
entrance  and  exit  in  case  of  necessity,  and  be  arranged  so 
as  to  promote  the  comfort  and  safety  of  persons  visiting 
them,  and  be  closed  till  such  requisitions  are  complied 
with  ;  and  any  city,  borough,  or  town  may  make  suitable 
by-laws  regarding  the  same. 

Sec.  284.    No  barbed  wire  shall  be  used  in  the  con- igyh- csliii' 
struction  of  fences,  or  retained  upon    existing  fences,  ^^ wire 
connected  with  or  enclosing  the  grounds  of  any  public 
school  or  other  public  building  in  this  State. 

See.  285.  Any  person  who  shall  violate  the  pro- is^cn. 
visions  of  the  preceding  section  shall  be  fined  not  more  Penalty, 
than  one  hundred  dollars. 


100 


Special  Acts  relating  to  Schools 


ANSONIA 
Special  Acts  of  1893,   Page  940 

Sec.  19.  Said  city  shall  be,  as  said  town  has  been,  a  consolidated  school  district; 
and  said  city  shall  be  substituted  for  and  take  the  place  of  the  town  of  Ansonia  in 
all  matters,  meetings,  duties,  powers,  obligations,  and  proceedings  required  by  law 
of  or  by  the  town  of  Ansonia  in  all  matters  concerning  education,  and  shall  act 
instead  of  said  town;  and  all  the  powers,  obligations,  duties,  rights,  and  property 
of  said  town  of  Ansonia,  whether  as  such  town  or  as  a  consolidated  school  district, 
shall,  with  reference  to  education,  be  vested  in  and  belong  to  said  city  of  Ansonia, 
which  shall  be  and  act  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  such  consolidated  school 
district.  The  election  of  officers  heretofore  chosen  by  the  town  of  Ansonia,  a  con- 
solidated school  district,  as  school  officers  known  by  the  name  of  board  of  educa- 
tion and  being  a  school  committee  of  said  district,  is  hereby  validated  and  con- 
firmed with  their  doings,  and  such  officers  being  the  present  members  of  the 
school  committee  of  said  town  and  district,  shall  be  and  constitute  the  board  of 
education  of  said  city,  and  such  officers  shall  hold  their  offices  during  their  respec- 
tive terms,  and  until  their  successors  are  chosen  and  qualified.  Should  any 
vacancy  occur  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  office  of  any  member  of  the 
said  board,  the  remaining  members  of  said  board  may  appoint  some  person  to  fill 
such  vacancy  for  the  remainder  of  such  term;  and  the  members  of  said  board  of 
education  shall  be  electors  of  said  city.  Said  board  of  education  shall  have  all 
the  powers  now  or  hereafter  vested  in,  and  shall  perform  all  the  duties  now  or 
hereafter  imposed  by  law  on  the  school  committee  and  selectmen  of  towns  relative 
to  schools  and  educational  matters,  and  such  board  shall  have  the  superintendence, 
management,  and  control  of  all  matters  concerning  education,  schools,  and  school 
property,  and  the  power  of  fixing  or  changing  the  sites  of  schoolhouses  in  said  city. 
The  mayor  of  said  city  shall  assign  one  or  more  patrolmen  to  act  as  truant  officers 
in  enforcing  the  general  statutes  in  such  cases  made  and  provided. 

Approved,   June  29,    1893. 

BRIDGEPORT 
Special  Acts  of  1889,  Page  859 

Sec.  15.  Said  city  shall  be,  as  said  town  has  been,  a  consolidated  school  district; 
and  said  city  shall  be  substituted  for  and  take  the  place  of  the  town  of  Bridgeport 
in  all  matters,  meetings,  duties,  powers,  obligations,  and  proceedings  required 
by  law  of  or  by  the  town  of  Bridgeport  in  all  matters  concerning  education,  and 
shall  act  instead  of  said  town;  and  all  the  powers,  obligations,  duties,  rights,  and 
property  of  said  town  of  Bridgeport,  whether  as  such  town  or  as  a  consolidated 
school  district,  shall,  with  reference  to  education,  be  vested  in  and  belong  to  said 
city  of  Bridgeport,  which  shall  be  and  act  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  such 
consolidated  school  district.  The  election  of  officers  heretofore  chosen  by  the 
town  of  Bridgeport,  a  consolidated  school  district,  as  school  officers  known  by 
the  name  of  the  "  board  of  education,"  and  being  a  school  committee  of  said  dis- 
trict, is  hereby  validated  and  confirmed  with  their  doings,  and  such  officers,  being 
the  present  members  of  the  school  committee  of  said  town  and  district,  shall  be 
and  constitute  the  board  of  education  of  said  city,  and  such  officers  shall  hold 
their  offices  during  their  respective  terms,  and  until  their  successors  are  chosen 
and  qualified.  At  the  meeting  of  the  electors  of  said  city,  held  on  the  first  Monday 


101 

of  April,  1889,  and  annually  thereafter,  on  the  same  day,  there  shall  be  chosen  by 
ballot  four  members  of  said  board  of  education  for  the  term  of  three  years  from 
and  after  the  first  Monday  of  May  next  succeeding  their  election,  and  at  said 
election  no  person  shall  vote  for  more  than  one-half  the  number  of  said  members 
to  be  chosen.  Should  any  vacancy  occur  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  of 
office  of  any  member  of  said  board,  the  remaining  members  of  said  board  may 
appoint  some  person  to  fill  such  vacancy  for  the  remainder  of  such  term;  and 
the  members  of  said  board  of  education  shall  be  electors  of  said  city.  Said  board 
of  education  shall  have  all  the  powers  now  or  hereafter  vested  in  and  shall  per- 
form all  the  duties  now  or  hereafter  imposed  by  law  on  the  school  committee  and 
selectmen  of  towns  relative  to  schools  and  educational  matters,  and  such  board 
shall  have  the  superintendence,  management,  and  control  of  all  matters  concerning 
education,  schools,  and  school  property,  and  the  power  of  fixing  or  changing  the 
sites  of  schoolhouses  in  said  city.  The  police  commissioners  of  said  city  shall 
assign  one  or  more  patrolmen  to  act  as  truant  officers  in  enforcing  the  statutes 
of  this  state  in  such  cases  made  and  provided. 


Special  Act  of  1893,  Page  278 
Applies  to  the  school  appropriations  of  Bridgeport. 

DERBY 
Special  Acts  of  1893,  Page  626 

Sec.  28.  Said  city  shall  be  a  consolidated  school  district;  and  said  city  shall  be 
substituted  for  and  take  the  place  of  the  town  of  Derby  in  all  meetings,  matters, 
duties,  powers,  obligations,  and  proceedings  required  by  law  of  or  by  the  town  of 
Derby  in  all  matters  concerning  education,  and  shall  act  instead  of  said  town ;  and 
all  the  powers,  obligations,  duties,  rights,  and  property  of  the  several  school  dis- 
tricts and  said  town  shall,  with  reference  to  education,  be  vested  in  and  belong  to 
said  city,  which  shall  be  and  act  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  such  consolidated 
school  district. 

There  shall  be  in  said  city  a  board  of  education  consisting  of  six  electors,  who 
shall  hold  office  for  the  term  of  four  years  from  the  first  Monday  of  January  suc- 
ceeding their  election,  and  until  their  successors  are  duly  elected  and  qualified. 
Each  ward  shall  elect  two  members  of  the  board  of  education,  and  in  the  second 
ward  one  member  of  said  board  shall  be  a  resident  of  the  present  third  school 
district  of  said  town,  and  one  member  of  said  board  shall  be  a  resident  of  the 
present  sixth  school  district;  in  the  third  ward  one  member  of  said  board  shall 
be  a  resident  of  the  present  first  school  district,  and  one  member  of  said  board 
shall  be  a  resident  of  the  present  second  school  district. 

At  the  city  election  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  December,  1893,  two  members 
of  the  board  of  education  shall  be  elected  in  each  ward,  but  no  person  shall  vote 
for  more  than  one  member  of  such  board.  Of  the  members  elected  at  such  election 
in  each  ward  one  shall  be  elected  for  three  years,  and  one  for  one  year  from  the 
first  Monday  of  January,  1894,  the  person  in  each  ward  having  the  greatest  number 
of  votes  shall  be  elected  for  the  three-year  term,  and  the  person  in  each  ward  having 
the  next  greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  elected  for  the  one-year  term.  At  the 
city  election  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  December,  1894,  afld  biennially  thereafter, 
one  member  of  said  board  shall  be  elected  from  each  ward  for  the  term  of  four 
years.  Vacancies  in  said  board  may  be  filled  by  the  remaining  members  of  said 
board  until  the  same  shall  be  filled  by  the  voters  of  the  ward  in  which  such 
vacancy  occurs,  and  in  case  it  is  filled  by  the  voters  of  said  ward,  it  shall  only  be 
for  the  unexpired'term.  Said  board  of  education  shall  have  all  the  powers  now  or 
hereafter  vested  in  and  shall  perform  all  the  duties  now  or  hereafter  imposed  by  law 
on  the  school  committee  and  selectmen  of  towns,  and  the  board  of  school  visitors 
relative  to  schools  and  educational  matters,  and  such  board  shall  have  the  super- 


102 

intendence,  management,  and  control  of  all  matters  concerning  education,  schools, 
and  school  property  in  said  city. 

The  police  commissioner  of  said  city  shall  assign  one  or  more  policemen  to 
act  as  truant  officers  in  enforcing  the  statutes  of  this  state  in  such  cases  provided. 

The  membership  of  said  board  shall  be  divided  equally  between  the  two  lead- 
ing political  parties,  for  the  time  being,  and  vacancies  shall  be  filled  from  the  same 
political  party  in  which  the  vacancy  exists. 

Said  board  of  education  shall,  monthly,  audit  and  approve  all  bills  for  the 
ordinary  current  expenses  of  its  department,  and  report  the  same  to  the  city  clerk, 
who  shall  thereupon  certify  whether  or  not  the  appropriation  is  sufficient  for  the 
payment  thereof;  and  if  sufficient  he  shall  draw  his  order  for  the  same  upon  the 
city  treasurer  in  favor  of  the  persons  entitled  to  payment  thereof.  Said  board  of 
education  shall  submit  to  the  mayor  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  of  October 
in  each  year  an  estimate  of  the  amount  required  for  the  support  and  maintenance 
of  the  public  schools  in  said  city  for  the  ensuing  fiscal  year. 

Sec.  zg.  All  the  property  of  the  town  of  Derby,  the  borough  of  Birmingham, 
and  the  several  school  districts  of  said  town  and  all  rights  of  action  and  all  securi- 
ties of  said  municipalities  and  liens  therefor,  including  liens  for  taxes  or  assess- 
ments due  the  town  of  Derby,  the  borough  of  Birmingham,  and  the  several  school 
districts  in  said  town,  are  hereby  transferred  to  and  vested  in  said  city  of  Derby, 
and  the  city  of  Derby  is  hereby  made  liable  for  all  the  debts,  dues,  bonds,  and 
obligations  of  every  kind  and  nature  of  the  town  of  Derby,  the  borough  of  Birming- 
ham, and  the  several  school  districts  of  said  town,  that  are  now  due  or  may  here- 
after become  due,  and  shall  execute,  abide  by,  and  perform  all  of  the  duties  and 
obligations  and  have  and  exercise  all  the  rights  of  said  town  of  Derby,  the  borough 
of  Birmingham,  and  the  several  school  districts  of  said  town,  and  any  creditor  or 
person  whomsoever  having  any  claim  or  right  of  action  arising  out  of  any  contract, 
obligation,  or  otherwise  against  said  town,  said  borough,  or  said  school  districts, 
may  enforce  the  same  against  the  said  city  of  Derby  in  the  same  manner  as  if  said 
claim,  right,  or  obligation  had  originally  accrued  against  said  city  of  Derby. 

Approved,  June   7,    1893. 

HARTFORD 

Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  354 
Concerning  the  Northwest  School  District  of  Hartford 

That  the  resolution  passed  at  the  January  session  of  1897  (special  acts,  volume 
XII,  page  1032),  Changing  School  District  Lines  in  Hartford,  be  and  it  is  hereby 
amended  by  adding  the  following  section: 

Sec.  5.  The  chairman  of  the  school  committee  of  the  Northwest  school  district, 
on  or  before  the  twentieth  day  of  October  in  each  year,  shall  file  with  the  town 
clerk  of  the  town  of  Bloomfield  a  sworn  statement  of  the  names  and  the  number  of 
persons  over  four  and  under  sixteen  years  of  age  who  shall  belong,  on  the  first  Mon- 
day of  said  month,  to  that  section  of  the  Northwest  school  district  which  lies  in  the 
town  of  Bloomfield,  together  with  the  names  of  the  parents,  guardians,  or  employ- 
ers of  such  persons,  as  ascertained  by  the  enumeration  made  during  said  month 
according  to  the  provisions  of  chapter  L  of  the  public  acts  of  1897,  and  the  selectmen 
of  the  town  of  Bloomfield  shall  cause  to  be  paid  annually  to  the  town  of  Hartford 
for  each  person  so  enumerated  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  in  discharge  of  any  legal 
obligation  of  the  town  of  Bloomfield  to  contribute  towards  the  cost  of  maintaining 
the  public  schools  in  said  Northwest  school  district. 

MANCHESTER 
Special  Acts  of  1895,  Page  408 

Ninth  School  District 

Section  i.  That  the  territory  and  inhabitants,  within  the  limits  of  the  Ninth 
school  district  of  Manchester  are  hereby  made  a  body  politic  and  corporate  by 
the  name  of  the  Ninth  School  District  of  Manchester,  and  shall  have  all  the  powers 
and  privileges  of  school  districts  under  the  laws  of  this  state. 


103 

Sec.  2.  The  first  meeting  of  said  district  shall  be  held  in  June,  1895,  and  shall 
be  called  by  the  present  district  committee.  At  said  meeting  shall  be  elected,  by 
ballot,  a  committee  consisting  of  five  persons,  whose  terms  of  office  shall  begin 
July  15,  1895.  One  of  this  number  shall  be  elected  to  hold  office  until  the  next 
annual  meeting,  two  until  the  second  annual  meeting,  and  the  remaining  two 
until  the  third  annual  meeting  thereafter.  At  each  annual  meeting  of  the  said 
district,  which  shall  be  held  in  June,  so  many  members  of  said  committee  shall 
be  elected  by  ballot  to  hold  office  for  three  years  as,  together  with  those  previously 
elected  to  hold  office  beyond  said  annual  meeting,  will  make  the  whole  number 
five;  and  all  members  of  said  committee  shall  be  residents  of  said  district.  In 
case  of  vacancy  caused  by  resignation,  death,  or  removal  from  the  district,  the 
remaining  members  of  the  committee  shall  fill  the  vacancy  until  the  next  annual 
meeting  of  said  district,  when  a  member  shall  be  elected  for  the  unexpired  term. 
The  chairman  of  the  district  committee  shall  give  due  notice  of  all  meetings  of 
said  district,  and  may  call  a  special  meeting  thereof  at  any  time,  and  shall  call  one 
on  the  written  request  of  twenty  legal  voters  of  the  district. 

Sec.  3.  Said  committee  shall  examine,  employ,  and  dismiss  teachers,  shall 
determine  the  number  and  qualifications  of  the  scholars  to  be  admitted  into  each 
school,  provided  that  all  children  of  school  age  within  said  district  shall  be  ad- 
mitted to  some  one  of  the  schools  maintained  by  said  district,  may  prescribe  the 
course  of  study  to  be  followed  in  the  schools,  and  shall  exercise  all  the  powers  and 
perform  all  the  duties  of  district  committees  and  school  visitors.  The  authority 
of  the  school  visitors  of  the  town  in  which  said  district  is  situated  shall  extend 
only  to  the  remaining  portion  of  said  town. 

Sec.  4.  In  the  town  of  Manchester,  in  each  year,  before  the  third  Tuesday  of 
June,  the  school  visitors  shall  elect  three  of  their  own  number,  and  the  committee 
chosen  under  the  provisions  of  this  resolution  shall  also  elect  three  of  their  own 
number,  and  these  six  persons,  together  with  the  selectmen  of  said  town,  shall 
be  the  joint  board  of  the  town  of  Manchester  in  lieu  of  that  provided  for  in  Sec- 
tion 2234  of  the  general  statutes,  and  shall  have  the  rights  and  perform  the  duties 
of  said  joint  board  prescribed  in  sections  2234,  2236,  and  2237  of  the  general  statutes. 

NAUGATUCK 
Special  Laws  of  1895,  Page  221 

Sec.  6.  All  burdens  and  all  expenses  imposed  by  law  upon  the  town  of 
Naugatuck,  for  the  support  of  schools,  shall  hereafter  be  borne  by  said  borough; 
and  said  borough  shall  hereafter  perform  all  the  duties,  and  have  and  exercise  all 
the  rights,  powers,  and  privileges  of  and  relative  to  said  purposes  and  matters  by 
law  conferred  upon  said  town;  and  all  laws  of  the  state  imposing  such  duties, 
burdens,  and  expenses,  and  conferring  such  rights,  powers,  and  privileges  upon 
said  town,  are  hereby  amended,  so  as  to  be  hereafter  applicable  to,  and  operative 
upon,  said  borough,  except  as  is  herein  otherwise  provided. 

Sec.  23.  There  shall  be  in  said  borough  a  board  of  education  consisting  of  six 
electors  of  said  borough.  Of  the  members  elected  at  the  annual  electors'  meeting 
of  said  borough  in  May,  1895,  two  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  three  years,  two 
for  the  term  of  two  years,  and  two  for  the  term  of  one  year,  respectively,  and  at 
said  election  in  May,  1895,  no  person  shall  vote  for  more  than  one  person  for  each 
of  the  respective  terms  last  above  named.  At  the  borough  election  held  on  the 
first  Monday  of  May,  1896,  and  annually  thereafter,  two  members  of  said  board  of 
education  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  three  years,  but  no  person  shall  vote  for 
more  than  one  member  of  said  board  at  any  election  after  May,  1895,  except  for 
persons  to  fill  vacancies.  Vacancies  in  said  board  may  be  filled  by  the  remaining 
members  of  said  board  until  the  same  shall  be  filled  by  the  voters  thereof,  but 
only  for  the  unexpired  term.  Said  board  of  education  shall  have  all  the  powers 
now  or  hereafter  vested  in,  and  shall  perform  all  the  duties  now  or  hereafter 
imposed  by  law  on  the  school  visitors  of  the  several  towns  in  this  state.  The 
board  of  education  and  the  warden  and  burgesses  of  said  borough  shall  meet  as  a 


104 

joint  board  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  June  in  each  year,  and  prepare  a  statement 
showing  the  estimated  cost  of  each  and  all  the  public  schools  in  the  borough  for 
the  succeeding  school  year,  and  shall  immediately  thereafter  notify  the  com- 
mittees of  the  respective  school  districts  of  the  several  amounts  so  estimated, 
and  said  board  of  education  shall  present,  at  the  annual  borough  meeting,  a  written 
or  printed  statement  of  the  total  cost  of  each  and  all  of  the  public  schools  in  said 
borough  for  the  school  year  next  preceding,  and  shall  present  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  such  schools  for  the  current  school  year,  at  a  meeting  of  the  freemen  of 
the  borough  held  in  July  in  each  year;  and  said  joint  board  shall  hereafter  do  and 
perform  all  other  acts  and  things  that  the  school  visitors  and  the  selectmen  of  said 
town  of  Naugatuck  have  heretofore  done  and  performed,  and  as  may  be  hereafter 
required  by  law  to  be  done  and  performed,  in  the  several  towns  by  the  board  of 
school  visitors  and  selectmen. 

NEW     HAVEN 

Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  419 

Department  of  Education 

Sec.  104.  There  shall  be  in  said  city  a  department  of  education,  which  shall 
have  the  care  and  management  of  all  the  affairs  of  the  New  Haven  city  school  dis- 
trict. After  this  act  takes  effect  no  meeting  of  the  New  Haven  city  school  district 
shall  be  held  for  any  purpose  whatever. 

Sec.  105.  Said  department  shall  be  under  the  control  of  a  board  of  education 
of  seven  members  who  shall  serve  without  compensation.  The  members  of  the 
board  of  education  in  office  at  the  time  this  act  takes  effect  shall  hold  their  respect- 
ive offices  during  the  terms  for  which  they  were  appointed  unless  sooner  removed 
for  cause  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  act.  On  or  before  the  first  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1899,  the  mayor  shall  appoint  two  members  of  said  board  to  serve  four  years 
from  the  third  Monday  in  September  next  following;  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
September,  1900,  the  mayor  shall  appoint  two  members  of  said  board  to  serve  four 
years  from  the  third  Monday  of  September  next  following;  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  September,  1901,  he  shall  appoint  two  members  of  said  board  to  serve  for  four 
years  from  the  third  Monday  of  September  next  following;  and  on  or  before  the 
first  day  of  September,  1902,  said  Mayor  shall  appoint  one  member  of  said  board  to 
serve  for  a  period  of  four  years  from  the  third  Monday^  of  September  next  follow- 
ing. And  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  September  in  every  year  thereafter  the 
mayor  shall  fill  the  vacancies  about  to  occur  in  said  board  by  appointing  one  or 
two  members,  as  the  case  may  be,  to  serve  for  four  years  from  the  third  Monday  in 
September  following  their  appointment.  Not  more  than  four  members  of  the  same 
political  party  shall  at  any  one  time  be  members  of  said  board.  The  mayor  shall 
fill  all  vacancies  caused  by  death,  resignation,  or  otherwise,  by  appointment,  for  the 
unexpired  term.  If  the  mayor  shall  refuse,  fail,  or  neglect  for  thirty  days  to  make 
an  appointment  to  fill  any  vacancy  that  may  occur  in  said  board,  either  by  death, 
resignation,  removal,  or  otherwise,  then  the  remaining  members  of  said  board  may 
elect  a  suitable  person  to  fill  such  vacancy. 

Sec.  106.  The  board  of  education  shall  appoint  a  superintendent  of  schools, 
and  shall  decide  the  number  of  principals,  assistants,  and  teachers  to  be  employed. 
It  may  appoint  or  employ  a  secretary,  an  inspector  of  buildings,  and  such  other 
officers  and  employes  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  proper  conduct  of  its  business. 
It  shall  fix  their  terms  of  office  and  their  salaries  and  prescribe  their  'duties  in  each 
case,  except  as  hereinafter  provided.  The  officers  and  employes  of  the  New  Haven 
city  school  district,  at  the  time  of  the  taking  effect  of  this  act,  shall  retain  their 
respective  offices  until  their  successors  shall  be  chosen,  and  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions of  the  board  of  education  then  in  existence,  not  inconsistent  with  this  act, 
shall  remain  in  full  force  until  repealed.  Said  board  shall  have  the  entire  charge 
and  direction  of  all  the  public  schools  of  said  district,  and  of  the  expenditure  of  all 
moneys  appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  same,  and  shall  have  charge  of  the  con- 
struction, management,  and  repair  of  all  school  buildings,  and  shall  possess  all 
other  powers  and  be  subject  to  all  of  the  general  duties  of  boards  of  education, 


105 

school  committees,  and  school  visitors  in  this  state,  so  far  as  the  same  are  consist- 
ent with  the  terms  of  this  act.  It  shall  annually  choose  a  president  from  among  its 
own  members,  make  its  own  by-laws,  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  define  the 
duties  of  its  officers  and  committees,  and  prescribe  such  rules  and  regulations  for 
discipline  in  said  public  schools  as  are  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  the  state. 

Sec.  107.  The  superintendent  of  schools,  if  he  has  not  held  the  office  before, 
shall  be  appointed  for  one  year,  and  if  continued  in  office  thereafter  may  be 
appointed  for  a  term  of  five  years,  and  his  salary  shall  not  be  reduced  before  the 
expiration  of  said  term  of  five  years.  He  shall  not  be  removed  during  said  term 
except  by  the  vote  of  five  members  of  the  board  of  education.  He  shall  appoint 
from  those  eligible  under  the  rules  of  the  board  all  principals,  assistants,  and  teach- 
ers necessary  to  fill  positions  authorized  by  the  board.  He  shall  assign  all  prin- 
cipals, assistants,  and  teachers  to  their  respective  positions  and  re-assign  them  or 
dismiss  them  from  office  at  his  discretion.  He  shall  report  at  each  meeting  of  the 
board  all  appointments,  re-assignments,  and  dismissals  made  by  him  since  the  pre- 
vious meeting.  Any  appointment  by  the  superintendent  may  be  rejected  by  a  vote 
of  five  members  of  the  board.  Any  dismissal  by  the  superintendent  shall  be  final 
unless  reversed  by  a  vote  of  five  members  of  the  board  at  the  meeting  when  such 
dismissal  is  reported.  Notice  of  dismissal  on  the  part  of  the  superintendent  shall 
be  given  to  the  principal,  assistant,  or  teacher,  by  the  superintendent  in  writing  at 
least  one  week  before  the  meeting  of  the  board  when  the  superintendent  reports 
such  dismissal.  He  shall,  with  the  approval  of  the  board  of  education,  prescribe 
the  courses  of  study  in  all  the  schools,  but  the  text-books  to  be  used  in  said  courses 
shall  be  designated  by  the  board.  The  superintendent  shall  annually,  at  a  date  to 
be  fixed  by  the  board,  submit  to  the  board  a  full  report  of  the  work  and  condition 
of  the  schools  during  the  previous  year,  with  recommendations  for  the  ensuing 
year,  which  report,  when  accepted  by  the  board,  shall  form  part  of  its  report  to  the 
mayor.  He  shall  also  report,  each  month  during  the  school  year,  to  the  board  in 
writing,  any  changes  made  in  the  several  courses  of  study,  and  what  principals, 
assistants,  and  teachers  he  has  assigned,  re-assigned,  or  dismissed,  and  shall  fur- 
nish such  additional  information  regarding  the  condition  of  the  schools  and  the 
efficiency  of  the  teaching  force  as  may  be  required  by  the  board.  Said  monthly 
reports  shall  be  entered  in  a  suitable  book  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  shall  be 
kept  as  a  part  of  the  records  of  the  department. 

Sec.  108.  The  treasure?  of  the  city  shall  receive  the  amount  of  school  money 
to  which  the  district  is  entitled  from  the  school  moneys  of  the  state,  from  the  town 
of  New  Haven,  from  state  appropriations  for  school  purposes,  from  gifts,  and  from 
the  tax  laid  within  the  district  for  school  purposes,  which  moneys  shall  be  subject 
to  the  order  of  the  board  of  education  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  the  board 
of  finance  may  from  time  to  time  establish. 

Sec.  109.  The  board  of  education  shall  submit  to  the  board  of  finance  of  the 
city,  at  the  time  fixed  by  law  for  the  submission  of  the  estimates  of  the  other  de- 
partments of  said  city,  a  detailed  estimate  of  its  expenses  for  the  next  year  for  which 
the  appropriations  for  city  purposes  are  by  law  required  to  be  made,  specifying 
separately  the  sums  needed  for  current  and  special  expenses. 

Sec.  no.  Said  board  of  finance  shall  annually  appropriate  for  the  purpose  of 
said  district  such  amount  as  it  may  deem  necessary  for  such  purposes.  Appropria- 
tions made  for  school  sites  and  the  building  and  furnishing  of  new  schoolhouses  or 
additions  to  old  ones  shall  be  known  as  the  special  school  fund,  and  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  board  of  education  to  cause  accurate  accounts  to  be  kept  of  its  receipts 
and  expenditures,  distinguishing  between  those  of  a  general  and  those  of  a  special 
character.  The  board  of  finance  shall  levy,  for  school  purposes,  a  tax  upon  all 
property  within  said  district  as  now  or  hereafter  constituted. 

Sec.  in.  The  board  of  education  shall  have  power  to  maintain  one  or  two 
high  schools,  as  it  may  deem  advisable,  and  a  manual  training  school,  and  it  shall 
determine  the  number  and  location  of  primary  and  grammar  schools,  but  no  ex- 
penditure involving  any  expense  to  the  city  of  New  Haven  or  the  New  Haven  city 
school  district  for  the  purchase  of  ground  or  the  erection  of  schoolhouses  shall  be 
made  until  a  special  appropriation  for  that  purpose  shall  have  been  made. 


106 

Sec.  112.  Said  board  shall  annually,  at  a  date  to  be  fixed  by  the  mayor,  trans- 
mit to  the  mayor  a  full  report  of  its  proceedings  during  the  previous  year,  together 
with  a  statement  of  its  receipts  and  expenditures,  specifying  those  on  account  of 
current  expenses,  and  special  expenses  for  land  and  buildings  respectively,  with 
such  other  details  as  the  mayor  may  from  time  to  time  require. 

Sec.  113.  Said- board  shall  have  power  to  divide  the  school  district  into  as  many 
sub-districts  as  it  may  deem  advisable  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  limits 
within  which  children  may  attend  each  school. 

Sec.  114.  The  city  of  New  Haven,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  board  of 
education,  shall  have  power  to  take  sites  for  schoolhouses,  or  for  the  enlargement 
of  sites  already  acquired,  in  the  manner  provided  by  law  for  the  taking  of  land  for 
public  parks. 

Sec.  115.  The  title  to  all  property,  legal  or  equitable,  owned  by  such  district,  or 
which  may  hereafter  be  acquired  for  school  purposes  in  said  district,  is  hereby 
vested  in  the  board  of  education,  as  trustee  for  said  New  Haven  city  school  district. 

Sec.  116.  The  Westville  school  district  and  the  South  school  district  are  ex- 
cepted  from  the  provisions  hereof.  Whenever  the  electors  of  either  the  Westville 
school  district  or  the  South  school  district  in  the  town  and  city  of  New  Haven 
shall,  by  a  majority  vote  in  district  meeting,  in  the  manner  provided  for  the 
admission  of  the  different  wards  in  section  218  of  this  act,  express  their  desire  to 
have  their  district  annexed  to  the  New  Haven  city  school  district,  said  vote  shall 
be  certified  to  the  board  of  education  of  the  New  Haven  city  school  district,  and 
said  board  shall  then,  by  a  proper  vote,  declare  the  district  in  question  to  be  a  part 
of  the  New  Haven  city  school  district,  and  it  shall  thereafter  be  included  in  said 
New  Haven  city  school  district,  and  be  governed  by  all  the  provisions  of  this  act 
relating  to  said  district. 


NEW    LONDON 
Special  Acts  of  1893,  Page  699 

Sec.  55.  All  the  rights,  powers,  and  duties  relative  to  education,  schools,  school 
districts,  schoolhouses,  school  lands,  school  property,  and  school  officers,  of  what- 
soever kind,  heretofore  conferred  or  imposed,  or  hereafter  to  be  conferred  or 
imposed  upon  towns,  shall  be  and  they  are  imposed  *and  conferred,  within  the 
limits  of  the  city  of  New  London,  upon  said  city,  and  upon-  the  officers  chosen 
by  it  for  school  purposes. 

Sec.  56.  The  school  visitors  of  said  city  shall  continue  to  be  such  school 
officers  and  shall  be  charged  with  and  perform  all  the  duties  of  a  school  committee 
and  shall  have  all  its  powers,  and  shall  act  in  the  place  and  stead  of  such  com- 
mittee in  all  things;  and  the  city  of  New  London  shall  be  substituted  for  and  take 
the  place  of  the  town  of  New  London  in  all  matters  concerning  education,  and 
shall  act  instead  of  said  town  in  all  of  the  same. 

Sec.  57.  All  the  powers,  obligatory  duties,  rights,  and  property  of  said  city  of 
New  London,  whether  as  such  city,  or  as  a  union  school  district,  in  respect  to 
education  and  schools,  shall  be  vested  in  and  belong  to  said  city  of  New  London, 
which  shall  be  and  act,  for  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  such  union  school  district, 
and  all  such  powers  and  duties  of  said  city  shall  be  exercised  and  performed  by 
said  board  of  school  visitors,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  said  city. 


Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  264 

An  Act  Annexing  a  Portion  of  the  Town  of  Waterford  to  the  Town  and  City  of 

New  London 

Sec.  5.  The  territory  hereby  annexed  shall  be  a  part  of  the  Union  school  dis- 
trict of  the  city  of  New  London,  and  from  the  time  when  this  act  takes  effect  said 
city  shall  assume  and  become  liable  for  all  obligations  for  the  care  and  expense 
of  schools  and  education  in  said  territory. 


107 

Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  371 

An  Act  amending  the  Charter  of  the  City  of  New  London 

Sec.  3.  The  title  to  the  public  schoolhouses,  school  lands,  and  school  property 
in  said  city,  other  than  that  endowed  or  specially  dedicated  by  private  bequests, 
shall  vest  in  said  city  of  New  London,  and  shall  not  be  conveyed  by  deed,  lease,  or 
otherwise  without  the  authority  of  the  court  of  common  council  of  said  city. 

Sec.  7.  The  mayor  of  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  a  member,  ex  officio, 
of  the  board  of  water  commissioners,  the  board  of  sewer  commissioners,  and  the 
board  of  school  visitors. 

NORWICH 

Special  Acts  of  1897,  Page  1058 
Amending  the  Charter  of  the  Falls  District 

Section  i.  That  the  third  or  Falls  school  district  in  the  town  of  Norwich  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  made  and  constituted  a  body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name 
of  the  Falls  District.  Said  district  shall  receive  its  proportion  of  the  public  money, 
shall  have  entire  control  of  all  the  schools  within  its  limits,  may  establish  and 
maintain  schools  of  different  grades,  and  shall  have  and  enjoy  all  the  powers  and 
privileges  at  present  enjoyed  by  school  districts  in  this  state. 

Sec.  2.  There  shall  be  elected  at  a  meeting  held  within  and  for  said  The  Falls 
District,  on  the  Friday  following  the  second  Monday  of  June,  1897,  at  7.30  o'clock 
P.  M.,  at  the  schoolhouse  in  said  The  Falls  District,  a  committee  consisting  of 
seven  persons,  voters  in  said  district,  by  ballot  and  by  a  majority  vote,  three  of 
the  members  of  said  committee  to  be  elected  for  one  year  from  and  after  the  date 
of  said  meeting,  two  members  of  said  committee  to  be  elected  for  two  years  from 
and  after  the  date  of  said  meeting,  and  two  members  of  said  committee  to  be 
elected  for  three  years  from  and  after  the  date  of  said  meeting.  The  terms  for 
which  -said  members  are  to  be  elected  shall  be  designated  upon  the  ballot  cast 
for  the  same,  and  they  and  their  successors  in  office  shall  have  the  control  and 
management  of  the  schools  in  said  district,  examine,  approve,  employ,  and  dismiss 
teachers,  prescribe  the  course  of  study  to  be  pursued  in  the  schools,  and  make  such 
by-laws  and  rules,  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  this  state,  as  they  shall  from 
time  to  time  deem  necessary,  choose  by  ballot  and  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  said 
committee  a  president  of  said  committee,  who  shall  preside  at  its  meetings  when 
present,  and  at  meetings  of  the  district  when  present,  and  if  the  president  of  said 
committee  shall  be  absent  from  any  of  said  meetings  then  the  presiding  officer  of 
said  meetings  shall  be  selected  from  any  of  the  voters  of  said  district  present,  at 
any  of  said  annual  and  special  meetings  of  said  district,  and  shall  choose  in  like 
manner  a  treasurer  of  said  district  from  among  members  of  said  committee;  and 
shall  choose  in  like  manner  as  aforesaid  a  clerk  of  said  district;  and  said  committee 
and  their  successors  in  office  shall  also  have  the  power  and  authority  to  borrow 
money  for  school  purposes  upon  the  credit  of  said  district  when  authorized  by  vote 
of  said  district.  In  case  of  vacancy  caused  by  resignation,  death,  or  removal  from 
the  district,  the  remaining  members  of  said  committee  by  a  majority  vote  shall  fill 
the  vacancy  until  the  next  annual  meeting  of  said  district,  when  some  person  shall 
be  elected  by  the  said  district  for  the  unexpired  term,  and  said  committee  shall  do 
and  perform  all  such  acts  as  are  now  by  law  devolved  upon  the  district  committee 
of  said  third  school  district.  The  compensation  of  all  of  the  officers  and  committees 
shall  be  determined  by  a  vote  of  the  district. 

Sec.  3.  Said  committee  shall  hold  its  regular  meetings  on  the  first  Monday  of 
each  month,  and  special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  president  upon  three  days' 
notice  thereof,  and  shall  be  called  by  him  upon  the  written  application  of  four  mem- 
bers of  the  committee. 

Sec.  4.  The  annual  meeting  of  said  The  Falls  District  shall  be  held  on  the 
Friday  after  the  second  Monday  of  June  in  each  year,  at  which  meeting  said  dis- 
trict shall  elect,  by  ballot  and  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  qualified  electors  of  the 


108 

district  present  and  voting,  two  members  of  the  said  committee  for  a  term  of 
three  years,  to  fill  the  places  of  the  members  whose  terms  of  office  shall  have  ex- 
pired; and  shall  elect  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  provided  a  member  or  members 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  any  member  or  members  of  said  committee  who  shall 
have  resigned,  died,  or  moved  out  of  the  district,  as  provided  by  section  two  of 
this  charter,  and  a  collector  of  taxes.  The  annual  report  of  the  committee  and  of 
the  district  treasurer  shall  be  submitted  to  said  meeting. 

Sec.  5.  There  shall  also  be  elected  at  each  annual  meeting  for  the  election  of 
the  said  committee,  in  addition  to  the  number  specified  in  section  four,  by  a 
majority  vote,  by  ballot,  a  member  of  said  committee  who  shall  hold  office  for  one 
year  from  and  after  the  date  of  his  said  election. 

Sec.  6.  The  annual  tax  meeting  of  The  Falls  District  shall  be  held  on  the 
Friday  following  the  second  Monday  of  June  in  each  year,  and  the  special  meet- 
ings of  the  district  may  be  called  by  the  said  committee  as  occasion  may  require, 
and  shall  be  called  on  application  in  writing  of  fifteen  legal  voters  of  said'  district. 

Sec.  7.  The  district  treasurer  and  the  collector  of  taxes  shall  each  give  a  bond 
to  the  satisfaction  of  a  committee  of  three  voters  of  said  district,  elected  by  the 
voters  of  said  district  at  its  annual  meeting  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in  this 
section,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  respective  duties,  and  for 
an  accounting  of  all  moneys  that  may  be  received  by  either  of  them. 

Approved,    May   26,    1897. 

Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  85 
Incorporating  the  Greeneville  School  District 

Section  i.  That  the  Greeneville  school  district  in  the  town  of  Norwich  be  and 
is  hereby  made  and  constituted  a  body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name  of  The 
Greeneville  School  District. 

Sec.  2.  Said  The  Greeneville  School  District  shall  receive  its  proportionate 
share  of  the  public  money;  shall  have  entire  and  exclusive  control  of  all  the  public 
schools  within  the  limits  of  said  district;  may  establish,  maintain,  and  manage 
schools  of  different  grades  therein,  and  shall  have  and  may  exercise  all  the  powers 
and  privileges  at  present  enjoyed  by  school  districts  in  this  state. 

Sec.  3.  The  first  meeting  of  said  corporation  shall  be  held  in  the  brick  school- 
house  in  said  district  on  the  Friday  next  following  the  third  Monday  of  June,  1899, 
at  half-past  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  there  shall  be  held  a  regular  annual 
meeting  of  said  corporation  at  the  same  place  and  hour  on  'the  Friday  next  following 
the  third  Monday  of  each  June  thereafter. 

Sec.  4.  Notice  of  said  first  meeting,  as  well  as  of  all  regular  and  special  meet- 
ings, shall  be  given  by  publishing  a  notice  thereof  once  in  a  daily  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  the  said  town  of  Norwich,  not  less  than  five  days  and  not  more  than  ten 
days  prior  to  such  meeting,  and  also  by  posting  a  copy  of  such  notice  on  the  outside 
of  the  main  entrance  door  of  said  schoolhouse,  and  a  similar  copy  on  the  public 
sign-post  nearest  to  said  schoolhouse  at  least  five  days  prior  to  the  date  of  such 
meeting.  The  notice  of  said  first  meeting  shall  be  signed  and  given  by  the  present 
district  committee  of  said  district,  and  notice  of  all  other  meetings  shall  be  signed 
and  given  by  the  board  of  education  of  said  corporation.  The  notice  of  every  special 
meeting  shall  state  the  purpose  of  such  meeting.  Special  meetings  may  be  called 
and  held  as  occasion  may  require  and  shall  be  called  by  the  said  board  upon  the 
written  request  of  not  less  than  twenty  of  the  legal  voters  residing  in  said  district. 

Sec.  5.  All  the  legal  voters  of  said  district  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  all  meet- 
ings of  said  corporation,  and  no  other  person  shall  have  the  right  to  vote  or  other- 
wise to  participate  in  said  meetings. 

Sec.  6.  The  officers  of  said  corporation  shall  be  a  board  of  education  consisting 
of  six  persons,  a  clerk,  a  treasurer,  a  collector,  and  an  auditor,  each  of  whom  must 
be  a  legal  voter  residing  in  said  district. 

Sec.  7.  All  of  said  officers  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  and  a  majority  of  the  law- 
ful ballots  cast  shall  be  requisite  to  elect. 


109 

Sec.  8.  At  said  first  meeting  there  shall  be  chosen  two  members  of  said  board 
of  education  to  serve  for  one  year  from  the  date  of  said  meeting,  two  to  serve  for 
two  years  from  said  date,  and  two  to  serve  for  three  years  from  said  date,  and  the 
ballots  for  members  of  said  board  cast  at  said  first  meeting  shall  state  the 
number  of  years  for  which  each  member  of  said  board  shall  serve.  At  each 
annual  meeting  thereafter  there  shall  be  elected  two  members  of  said  board  to  serve 
for  three  years.  At  said  first  meeting  there' shall  also  be  elected  a  clerk,  a  treasurer, 
a  collector,  and  an  auditor,  each  to  serve  for  one  year  from  the  date  of  said 
meeting;  arid  at  each  annual  meeting  thereafter  there  shall  be  chosen  a  clerk,  a 
treasurer,  a  collector,  and  an  auditor,  each  for  one  year  from  date  of  election 
and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.  9.  The  said  board  of  education  shall  have  the  entire  and  exclusive  control, 
supervision,  and  management  of  all  public  schools  within  the  limits  of  said  school 
district;  and  shall  possess,  enjoy,  and  exercise  all  the  powers,  and  shall  perform  all 
the  duties  of  school  district  committees  and  of  school  visitors;  and  the  school 
visitors  of  said  town  of  Norwich  shall  cease  to  have  and  to  exercise  any  authority  in 
said  district  when  this  resolution  takes  effect. 

Sec.  10.  Said  board  of  education  shall  also  have  the  power  to  make  and  to  en- 
force proper  rules  and  by-laws  for  its  own  government,  and  for  the  management  of 
said  corporation  and  of  its  affairs;  and  to  amend,  alter,  or  suspend  the  same;  and  to 
choose  such  officers  of  said  board  as  it  may  deem  requisite,  including  a  president 
thereof. 

Sec.  ii.  The  president  of  said  board  shall  preside  at  all  the  meetings  thereof, 
as  well  as  at  all  meetings  of  said  corporation,  but  in  case  the  president  is  absent,  or 
when  there  is  a  vacancy  in  his  office,  his  duties  shall  be  performed  by  such  other 
member  of  said  board  as  shall  be  designated  by  vote  of  the  remaining  members  of 
said  board;  provided,  that  at  the  said  first  meeting  of  said  corporation  the  legal 
voters  present  shall  elect  viva  voce  the  presiding  officer  of  said  first  meeting. 

Sec.  12.  The  auditor  shall  duly  examine  all  the  books,  accounts,  and  vouchers 
of  said  corporation  and  of  its  officers,  shall  make  a  true  and  full  report  of  his  exami- 
nations and  doings,  when  and  as  required  by  the  rules  and  by-laws  adopted  by 
said  board;  and  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  said  board  may  impose  on  him. 
The  other  officers  shall  discharge  the  duties,  and  shall  have  and  exercise  the  powers 
and  privileges  of  the  corresponding  officers  of  said  school  district,  as  constituted 
before  the  creation  of  said  corporation. 

Sec.  13.  Said  board  shall  hold  meetings  for  the  transaction  of  business  at  such 
times  and  places  as  shall  be  determined  by  said  board,  and  a  majority  of  the 
members  thereof  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  all  proper  business. 

Sec.  14.  Said  board  shall  have  full  and  exclusive  power  to  examine,  employ, 
and  dismiss  teachers  for  the  public  schools  in  said  district,  and  also  to  perform  all 
the  duties  and  to  exercise  all  the  powers  and  privileges  now  possessed  and  enjoyed 
by  school  district  committees  in  this  state. 

Sec.  is-  Said  board  of  education  shall  have  power  to  borrow  money  for  the 
legitimate  needs  of  said  corporation,  upon  the  credit  of  said  corporation,  and  to 
execute  and  negotiate  its  suitable  obligations  therefor. 

Sec.  16.  The  treasurer  and  collector  shall  each  furnish  a  bond,  with  surety  or 
sureties  satisfactory  to  said  board  and  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of 
their  respective  duties;  and  no  person  shall  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  of 
either  treasurer  or  collector  until  his  bond  shall  have  been  accepted  and  approved 
by  said  board. 

Sec.  17.  Said  board  shall  fix  the  compensation  of  all  officers  and  of  all  other 
employes  of  said  corporation. 

Sec.  18.  At  each  annual  meeting  after  June  23,  1899,  there  shall  be  presented 
written  reports  of  the  treasurer  and  the  board  of  education  for  the  preceding  twelve 
months,  and  a  written  estimate  by  said  board  of  the  receipts  and  expenses  of  the 
twelve  months  following. 

Sec.  19.  Any  vacancy  in  any  of  said  offices  shall  be  filled  by  said  board,  or  the 
remaining  members  thereof,  until  the  next  annual  meeting. 


110 

Sec.  20.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  June,  1899,  on  the 
organization  of  the  first  meeting  of  said  corporation  as  provided  in  said  act;  and 
the  terms  of  all  the  present  officers  of  the  Greeneville  School  District  shall  terminate 
at  the  time  this  act  takes  effect  as  herein  provided;  and  the  report  of  the  officers 
of  said  district  shall  be  made  at  said  first  meeting. 

ORANGE 

Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  269 
An  Act  concerning  the  Union  School  District  of  Orange 

Section  i.  The  Union  School  District  of  the  town  of  Orange  may,  at  its  next 
annual  meeting,  vote  upon  the  question  of  whether  or  not  said  district  will  adopt  the 
form  of  school  government  provided  for  in  sections  2130,  2131,  2132,  2133,  and  2134  of 
the  general  statutes,  and  if  a  majority  of  the  voters  of  said  district  shall  at  said 
meeting  vote  in  favor  of  adopting  said  form  of  government,  then  the  officers  of  said 
district  elected  at  said  annual  meeting  shall  hold  office  until  the  third  Monday  of 
September,  1899. 

Sec.  2.  If  said  district  shall  vote  to  adopt  said  form,  of  government,  then  said 
district  shall  hold  its  annual  meeting  on  the  third  Monday  of  September,  1899,  and 
annually  thereafter;  and  at  the  annual  meeting  held  on  the  third  Monday  of 
September,  1899,  elect  the  officers  provided  for  in  said  section  2130  of  the  general 
statutes,  and  shall  elect  two  members  of  a  board  of  education  to  serve  for  one  year, 
two  members  to  serve  for  two  years,  and  two  members  to  serve  for  three  years, 
and  annually  thereafter  two  members  to  serve  for  three  years,  as  provided  in  said 
statutes. 

Sec.  3.  Upon  said  district  voting  as  herein  provided,  and  upon  the  election  of 
officers  of  said  district  as  provided  in  section  two,  said  district  and  said  officers 
shall  have  all  the  powers,  rights,  and  duties,  and  be  subject  to  all  the  obligations 
imposed  upon  school  districts  so  organized  as  provided  in  sections  2130,  2131,  2132, 
2133,  and  2134  of  the  general  statutes,  and  all  other  acts  relating  to  school  districts 
so  far  as  the  same  are  applicable;  and  in  case  of  a  vacancy  occurring  in  any  office, 
the  board  of  education  may  fill  the  same  till  the  next  annual  meeting. 

Sec.  4.  The  adoption  by  said  district  of  said  form  of  government  shall  in  no 
manner  affect  the  rights,  property,  or  obligations  of  said  school  district,  but  the 
same  shall  continue  in  the  same  manner  as  if  this  act  had  not  been  passed,  and  shall 
be  administered,  adjusted,  and  liquidated  by  said  district  and  by  the  officers  elected 
in  pursuance  of  this  act,  in  lieu  of  the  officers  now  administering  the  same,  and  all 
debts  due  said  district  and  all  obligations  due  from  said  district  shall  be  collected 
and  paid  by  said  district  and  by  the  officers  elected  hereunder,  to  the  same  extent 
as  if  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 

Sec.  5.  If  said  district  shall  vote  to  adopt  said  form  of  government,  the  school 
visitors  of  the  town  of  Orange  shall  only  have  jurisdiction  in  the  remaining  portion 
of  the  town  after  the  third  Monday  of  September,  1899. 

Sec.  6.    This  act  shall  take  effect  from  its  passage. 

VVATERBURY 
Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  498 

An  Act  in  addition  to  an  Act  Revising  and  Amending  the  Charter  of  the  City  of 

Waterbury 

Section  i.  The  territorial  limits  of  the  body  politic  and  corporate  existing 
under  the  name  of  the  city  of  Waterbury  shall  hereafter  include  all  land  and  terri- 
tory situated  within  the  limits  of  the  Center  School  District  of  Waterbury  as  now 
or  hereafter  defined. 

Sec.  2.  There  shall  be  in  the  city  of  Waterbury  a  department  of  education  which 
shall  have  the  care  and  management  of  all  the  property  and  affairs  of  the  Center 
school  district  of  Waterbury.  After  this  act  shall  take  effect  no  meeting  of  said 
Center  school  district  shall  be  held  for  any  purpose  whatever. 


Ill 

Sec.  3.  Said  department  shall  be  under  the  control  of  the  board  of  education, 
consisting  of  the  mayor,  who  shall  be  ex  officio  chairman,  and  seven  members,  who 
shall  be  elected  biennially  at  the  meetings  of  said  city  for  the  election  of  officers; 
and  for  this  purpose  separate  ballots  shall  be  provided  in  the  several  voting  places 
in  said  city.  The  terms  of  office  of  said  members  shall  begin  on  the  first  Monday 
of  January  next  following  their  election,  and  the  provisions  of  the  charter  of  said 
city  in  relation  to  the  powers  and  duties  of  city  officers  shall  apply  to  said  members. 

Sec.  4.  No  person  shall  vote  for  more  than  four  members  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation. If  any  ballot  found  in  said  boxes  shall  have  the  names  of  more  than  four 
persons  for  members  of  said  board,  the  first  four  names  only  shall  be  counted,  and 
the  seven  persons  of  the  whole  number  voted  for  and  counted  as  aforesaid  having 
the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  elected  members  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation of  said  city.  In  case  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  said  board  by  reason  of  a  tie 
vote,  or  death,  resignation,  or  removal,  or  any  other  cause,  such  vacancy  may  be 
filled  in  the  manner  now  provided  for  filling  vacancies  in  other  city  offices. 

Sec.  5.  The  members  of  said  board  of  education  shall  receive  such  compensa- 
tion for  their  services  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  board  of  aldermen. 

Sec.  6.  Said  board  shall  hold  regular  meetings  every  month,  and  special  meet- 
ings at  such  times  as  it  may  appoint  or  the  mayor  may  call.  Except  in  case  of  a  tie, 
the  mayor  shall  have  no  vote  in  any  meeting. 

Sec.  7.  The  board  of  education  shall  appoint  a  superintendent  of  schools,  and 
shall  decide  the  number  of  principals,  assistants,  and  teachers  to  be  employed.  It 
may  appoint  or  employ  a  clerk,  an  inspector  of  buildings,  and  such  other  officers 
and  employes  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  proper  conduct  of  its  business.  It  shall 
fix  their  salaries,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  board  of  finance,  and  prescribe 
their  terms  of  office,  and  their  duties,  in  each  case,  except  as  hereinafter  provided. 
The  officers  and  employes  of  the  Center  school  district,  at  the  time  when  this  act 
shall  take  effect,  shall  retain  their  respective  offices  until  their  successors  shall  be 
chosen  and  duly  qualified,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  board  of  education 
and  district  committee  then  in  existence,  not  inconsistent  with  this  act,  shall  remain 
in  full  force  until  repealed.  The  board  of  education  herein  provided  for  shall  have 
the  entire  charge  and  direction  of  all  the  public  schools  of  said  district,  and  of  the 
expenditure  of  all  moneys  appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  same,  and  shall  have 
power  to  construct,  manage,  and  repair  all  school  buildings,  and  shall  possess  all 
other  powers  and  be  subject  to  all  of  the  general  duties  of  boards  of  education, 
school  committees,  and  school  visitors  in  this  state,  so  far  as  the  same  are  consist- 
ent with  the  terms  of  this  act.  It  shall  make  its  own  by-laws,  keep  a  journal  of  its 
proceedings,  define  the  duties  of  its  officers  and  committees,  and  prescribe  such 
rules  and  regulations  for  discipline  in  the  said  public  schools  as  are  not  inconsistent 
with  the  laws  of  the  state. 

Sec.  8.  The  superintendent  of  schools  shall  be  appointed  for  the  term  of  two 
years,  and  his  salary  shall  not  be  increased  or  decreased  during  any  term  except  in 
the  manner  provided  by  the  charter  of  said  city.  He  shall  not  be  removed  during 
said  term  except  by  the  vote  of  five  members  of  the  board  of  education.  He  shall 
appoint  from  those  eligible  under  the  rules  of  the  board,  all  principals,  assistants, 
and  teachers  necessary  to  fill  positions  authorized  by  the  board.  He  shall  assign 
all  principals,  assistants,  and  teachers  to  their  respective  positions,  and  re-assign 
them  or  dismiss  them  from  office  at  his  discretion.  He  shall  report  at  each  meet- 
ing of  the  board  all  appointments,  re-assignments,  and  dismissals  made  by  him 
since  the  previous  meeting.  Any  appointment  by  the  superintendent  may  be 
rejected  by  a  vote  of  the  majority  of  the  board.  Any  dismissal  by  the  superin- 
tendent shall  be  final  unless  reversed  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  board  at  the 
meeting  when  such  dismissal  is  reported.  Notice  of  dismissal  on  the  part  of  the 
superintendent  shall  be  given  to  the  principal,  assistant,  or  teacher  by  the  superin- 
tendent in  writing  at  least  one  week  before  the  meeting  of  the  board  when  the 
superintendent  reports  such  dismissal.  He  shall,  with  the  approval  of  the  board  of 
education,  prescribe  the  course  of  study  in  all  the  schools,  but  the  text-books  to  be 
used  in  said  courses  shall  be  designated  by  the  board.  The  superintendent  shall 

8 


112 

annually,  at  a  date  to  be  fixed  by  the  board,  submit  to  the  board  a  full  report  of  the 
work  and  condition  of  the  schools  during  the  previous  year,  with  recommenda- 
tions for  the  ensuing  year,  which  report,  when  accepted  by  the  board,  shall  form 
part  of  its  report  to  the  mayor.  He  shall  also  report,  each  month  during  the  school 
year,  to  the  board  in  writing,  any  changes  made  in  the  course  of  study,  and  what 
principals,  assistants,  and  teachers  he  has  assigned,  re-assigned,  or  dismissed,  and 
shall  furnish  such  additional  information  regarding  the  condition  of  the  schools  and 
the  efficiency  of  the  teaching  force  as  may  be  required  by  the  board.  Said  monthly 
reports  shall  be  entered  in  a  suitable  book  provided  for  that  purpose,  and  shall  be 
kept  as  part  of  the  records  of  the  department. 

Sec.  9.  The  treasurer  of  the  city  shall  receive  the  amount  of  school  money  to 
which  the  district  is  entitled  from  the  school  moneys  of  the  state,  from  the  town  of 
Waterbury,  from  state  appropriations  for  school  purposes,  from  gifts,  and  from  the 
tax  laid  within  the  district  for  school  purposes,  which  moneys  shall  be  subject  to 
the  order  of  the  board  of  education  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  the  board 
of  finance  may  from  time  to  time  establish. 

Sec.  10.  The  board  of  education  shall  submit  to  the  board  of  finance  of  the 
city,  at  the  time  fixed  by  law  for  the  submission  of  the  estimates  of  the  other  de- 
partments of  said  city,  a  detailed  estimate  of  its  expenses  for  the  next  year  for 
which  the  appropriations  for  city  purposes  are  by  law  required  to  be  made,  speci- 
fying separately  the  sums  needed  for  current  and  for  special  expenses. 

Sec.  ii.  The  provisions  of  sections  92  and  93  of  the  charter  of  the  city  of  Water- 
bury  shall  apply  to  such  estimates,  and  to  all  taxes  and  appropriations  based 
thereon;  but  no  tax  shall  be  laid  upon  any  property  lying  outside  of  the  present 
limits  of  the  city  of  Waterbury  and  within  the  limits  of  said  city  as  hereby  estab- 
lished at  a  rate  exceeding  one-half  of  the  rate  of  taxation  upon  property  lying 
within  the  present  limits  of  said  city. 

Sec.  12.  The  board  of  education  shall  annually,  at  a  date  fixed  by  the  mayor, 
transmit  to  the  mayor  a  full  report  of  its  proceedings  during  the  previous  year, 
together  with  a  statement  of  its  receipts  and  expenditures,  specifying  those  on 
account  of  current  expenses  and  special  expenses  for  land  and  buildings  respect- 
ively, with  such  other  details  as  the  mayor  may  from  time  to  time,  require. 

Sec.  13.  Said  board  shall  have  power  to  divide  the  school  district  into  as 
many  sub-districts  as  it  may  deem  advisable,  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the 
limits  within  which  children  may  attend  each  school. 

Sec.  14.  The  city  of  Waterbury,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  board  of 
education,  shall  have  power  to  take  sites  for  schoolhouses,  or  for  the  enlargement 
of  sites  already  acquired,  in  the  manner  provided  by  law  for  taking  of  land  for 
public  parks. 

Sec.  15.  The  title  to  all  property,  legal  or  equitable,  owned  by  said  district,  or 
which  may  hereafter  be  acquired  for  school  purposes  in  said  district,  is  hereby 
vested  in  the  board  of  education,  as  trustee  for  said  Center  School  district. 

Sec.  16.  Nothing  in  this  act  shall  be  construed  to  restrict  the  right  of  any 
woman  to  vote  at  any  meeting  held  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  any  officer  of 
schools,  or  for  any  educational  purpose  under  the  general  or  special  laws  of  this 
state,  and  nothing  herein  shall  confer  upon  any  woman  the  right  to  vote  for  the 
mayor  of  said  city  of  Waterbury  or  any  other  city  officer. 

Special  Acts  of  1899,  Page  339 

Concerning  the  Bucks  Hill  School  District  of  Waterbury 

That  all  that  part  of  the  Bucks  Hill  school  district  of  the  town  of  Waterbury 
lying  on  the  southerly  side  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  southwesterly  corner  of  said 
district  to  a  point  in  the  Bucks  Hill  highway  opposite  the  dividing  line  between 
property  of  Henry  Simpkins  and  E.  Goodenough,  adjacent  to  said  highway,  and 
from  thence  easterly  to  the  southeast  corner  of  said  district,  with  all  persons  now 
and  hereafter  residing  on  said  territory  be  and  hereby  are  transferred  to  the  center 
school  district  of  the  town  of  Waterbury,  to  which  latter  district  they  shall  here- 
after belong. 


INDEX 


Section 

Abolition  of  school  districts,            .....  142,  143 

vote  how  taken,          .           .           .  143 

repeal  of  vote,             .            .            .  163 

Accounts  —  of  Board  of  Education,            ....  7 

Normal  School,        .            .            .                       .  11 

State  aid  to  libraries,            ....  6 

audited  by  Comptroller,        .  6 

Alcoholic  liquors — instruction  concerning,           ...  41 

Acting  School  Visitor — appointment  of,    ....  87 

not  necessarily  a  member  of  the  Board,  88 
compensation,      .           .            .            .88,  96,  97 

duties,       .....  87 

in  districts  having  board  of  education,  57,  88 
to  certify  to  State  Board  of  Education, 

attendance  in  non-local  high  schools,  64 
to    purchase    text-books    for   children 

when  parents  are  unable,        .           .  89 
Age  —  of  school  attendance,             ....            .18,24,39 

employment,               ......  23 

enumeration,              ......  177 

penalty  for  false  statement  concerning,      .  .  .23,  25 

Agents  —  of  school  districts,           .            .            .            .            .  99 

State  Board  of  Education,      .            .           .           .  3,  4 

expenses,         ....  4 

duties,              .            .           .            .  3,  4,  20 

Almshouse,  not  exempt  from  taxation,       ....  244 

Ansonia,  district  of,              ......  p.  100 

Apparatus  —  State  aid  for,    ......  172 

to  be  approved  by  school  visitors,     .            .            .  78,  173 

districts  may  purchase,          ....  102 

Appeal  —  to  Superior  Court  in  proceedings  for  taking  land  for 

schoolhouse  site,              .            .  187,  138 

to  alter  school  districts,      .            .  106 

define  boundary  lines,     .            .  104 

divide  district  property,              .  156 

Appraisement  of  district  property  at  time  of  consolidation,        .  155,  156 

Apportionment  —  of  money  to  school  districts,      ...  191 

districts  lying  in  two  or  more  towns,  202 

Appropriation  —  for  Normal  Schools,         ....  8 

public  schools,            ....  182 


114 

Section 

Appropriation — for  school  libraries,           .            .            .  172 

teachers'  meetings,     .            .           .  2 

evening  schools,          .            .            .  72,  84 

State  distribution  of,              ...  90,  182 

Arbor  and  Bird  Day  —  to  be  observed  by  schools,            .           .  259 

Arrest  of  truant  boys,           ......  30 

Arrest  of  truant  girls,            ......  36 

Assessment  — of  property  by  school  districts,        .  .  .    243-258 

Attendance  —  age  of ,            .           .           .           .           .           .  18 

certificates  of,           ....  24 

.   evidence  of,   ......  24 

at  private  schools,     .....  20 

possible,         .  38 

excuses  for  non-attendance,  .  .  .18,  19 

Ballot  —  officers  voted  for  on  each,             ....  260 

what  to  be  placed  in  envelope,     .           .           .  261 
officers  to  be  chosen  by,     .           .           .           .           47,  76,  125 

what  matters  decided  by,  .  .  .  .        120,  121,  143 

Bird  Day,       ....  259 

Board  of  Education  —  in  districts  formerly  school  societies,       .  54 

appointment  of,            .            .  54 

duties  and  powers,       .            .  54,  57 
power  to  appoint  superintendent  not  of 

their  own  number,           ...  88 
Board  of  Education,  State  —  constitution  of, 

duties  and  powers,           .           .            .           .  1,15 

superintend  Normal  Schools,          .  8 
enforce  laws  relating  to  attendance 

at  school,    ....  3 

enforce  laws  relating  to  employment 

of  children,            ...  4 

examine  teachers,      ...  5 
examine    teachers   for   schools   in 

County  Homes,      .  15 
expend  sum  appropriated  for  Nor- 
mal Schools,           .            .            .  11 
appoint  acting  visitor  or  visitors  for 

County  Homes,     .  15 
keep  account  of  State  aid  to  libra- 
ries,           .... 

appoint  a  Public  Library  Committee,          218 
make  annual  report, 
order  sanitary  changes  in  school- 
houses,        .  .210 
relieve    towns    from    maintaining 

evening  schools,    ...  73 

render  accounts  to  Comptroller,      .  6,  7 


115 

Section 

Board  of  Education — expenses  of,   ....     Note  1,  page  2 

power  to  appoint  agents,      .           .           .  8,  4 
create    model    schools   at  Normal 

Schools,      ....  12 

hold  teachers'  meetings,       .            .  2 

secretary  of  (see  Secretary),             .            .  1 

may  approve  high  schools,  ...  62 
to  be  furnished  with  number  and  names  of 
pupils  attending  high  schools  in  towns 

other  than  those  in  which  they  reside,    .  64 

test  eyesight, .....  16 

Board  of  Relief— how  constituted,                        .           .           .  246 

school  visitors  —  (see  Visitors). 

Boundary  lines  of  districts,             .....  103,  104 

settlement  of,      ....  99 

record  of,            ....  98 

Branches  —  taught  in  public  schools,          ....  38 

evening  schools,        .            .            .            .  65,  69 

in  which  teachers  must  be  examined,        .  78,  79 

Bridgeport  —  act  amending  charter  of ,                   .           .  p.  100 

Buildings  —  public,  include  what,  .....  267 

injuries  to,       ......  275 

Certificates  —  age,      .......  23 

penalty  for  false,             ....  23 

school  attendance,     .....  24 

employer  must  require,    .           .  24 

must  be  kept  at  place  of  business,  24 

school  visitors  to  Comptroller,    .            .         90,  181,  182 

selectmen,        .           .         90,  192,  193 

teachers,     .            .            .           .           .            .  78,  175 

given  by  school  visitors,            .            .  78,  175 

by  State  Board  of  Education,   .           .  5 

may  be  revoked,             .            .  61,  78 

of  high  schools,  ....  61 

Charges  for  tuition  —  to  meet  extra  expenses  of  high  or  graded 

schools,     .....  200 

Children  —  instruction  of ,    ......  18 

to  be  educated,  at  home  or  at  school,             .           .  18 
to  attend  school  regularly  and  constantly  when  not 

employed  to  labor,     .....  18 

under  fourteen,  employment  of ,                      .            .  21 
under  fourteen,  not  to  be  employed  in  factories  and 

stores,              .....  22 

certificate  of  age  of,                   .            .            .            .  23,  24 

if  unruly  may  be  bound  out  by  selectmen,     .            .  27 
what  may  be  admitted  to  public  schools, 

evening  schools,      .            .  65,  69 

excluded  from  public  schools,  .            .  82 


116 

Section 
Children  —  enumeration  of,  .  .....   177,179 

temporarily  residing  in  district,            .  177 

admission  of  non-residents  to  district  schools,           .  140 

in  districts  where  there  is  110  school,  provision  for,  .  196 

school  visitors  may  provide  transportation  for,         .  198 

expense  of  transportation  of,  to  be  paid  by  town,     .  199 
in  temporary  homes,  expenses  of  instruction  to  be 

paid  by  the  county,    .....  206 

neglected  and  dependent,         .           .           .            .  215 

vaccination  may  be  required,  ....  82 

kindergartens  for  children  over  3,      ...  40 

dependent  and  neglected,  provision  for,         .            .  215 

imbecile,  provision  for,             ....  217 

not  to  be  employed  in  exhibitions,  etc.,         .            .  273 

not  allowed  in  pool  rooms,       ....  274 

Clerk j>f  school  district  —  election  of,        .           .            .           .  124 

must  be  sworn,             .            .            .  124 
duties  of,                      .           .        116,  119,  129 
to  determine  place  of  meeting  when  no 

committee,     ....  115 

to  give  notice  of  meeting  when  no 

committee,     .            .            .            .  116 

to  enumerate  children  if  committee 

fail, 177 

to  report  names  of  school  officers  to 

school  visitors,          .            .            .  127 

to  furnish  access  to  records,   .            .  131 

City  district  — tax  in,            .            .            .            .            .            .  194 

Collector  —  election,             ......  124 

duties  of,          ......  129 

to  give  bonds,  ......    130,  252 

to  exhibit  tax  book,     .....  253 

penalty  for  refusal,            •                 .            .            .  253 

Committee  of  high  school,    ......  60 

district  —  (see  District  Committee). 

consolidated  districts  —  how  elected,           .            .  146 
powers,      .            .            .  152 
may  appoint  acting  visitor 
or  superintendent  not  of 
their  own  number,        .  88 
to  be  school  visitors  if  the 
union  system  is  aban- 
doned,   ...  166 
may    give    written    con- 
sent   to    attendance  in 
non-local    high   school,  62 
Comptroller  —  to  audit  expenses  of  State  Board  of  Education,   .  7 


117 


Comptroller  —  to  audit  accounts  of  State  library  money, 

accounts  of  Normal  Schools, 
draw  orders  in  favor  of  districts  having  a  board 
of  education,    ..... 

distribute  income  of  School  Fund  and  annual 
State  appropriation,     .... 

draw  orders  in  favor  of  town  supporting  even- 
ing schools,      ..... 

draw  order  for  high  school  tuition  fees, 

sue  for  misapplied  money, 

deduct  forfeiture,  .... 

returns  to,  .....          90, 

Compulsory  education,        ...... 

Condemnation  of  land  for  school  purposes, 

Consolidation  of  districts,     ...... 

towns  may  vote,       .... 

by  ballot,    . 

voting  list, 

towns  may  vote,  when  votes  take  effect, 
method  of  procedure, 
pay  expenses  of  schools, 
committee,  first,       .... 

subsequent, 

notice  of,  to  Secretary  of  State, 
number,  how  determined,  ' 
classification,     . 
powers  and  duties, 
adjustment  of  property  and  debts, 
appraisement,  . 
payment, 

permanent  funds,  management  of, 
joint  districts,  notice  of  abolition  of, 
mode  of  paying  debts, 

collecting  taxes,   . 
libraries,  school, 
abandonment  after  five  years, 
reimbursement  of  town  for  expenses, 
when  takes  effect,    .... 

town  committee  becomes  Board  of  School 
Visitors,    ..... 

condemnation  of  land  for  school  purposes, 
Constables  —  special,  for  arrest  of  truants,  powers  of, 
Constitution  of  Connecticut  —  provisions  concerning  education, 
Construction  of  statutes,       .... 

County  Homes,  schools  in,  . 

Damages,  assessment  of,  when  taking  land  for  site  of  schoolhouse, 

Dependent  and  neglected  children  —  homes,  how  provided, 


181, 


Section 

6 

11 

58 
182 

84 

64 
186 

92 
182 

18 
167 
142 
142 
148 
150 
144 

page  53 
168 
145 
147 
149 
145 
148 
152 
154 
154 
155 
157 
159 
161 
162 
158 
163 
164 
165 


166 

167 

35 

page  1 

267 

13-15 

137,  138 

215 


118 

Section 

Derby  School  District,          .                                    .                        .  page  101 

Distribution  of  public  money,          .....  182 

Districts — are  corporations,            .....  102 

boundary  lines,  ......  103 

record  of,        .            .            .            .  103 

settlement  of,  .            .            .            .  104 

alteration  or  abolition  of,                      .            .            .  100 

parts  of  districts,     .            .  100 

disposition  of  funds,          .  108 

division  of,         ......  101 

lying  in  two  or  more  towns,         .        '   .  100 

settlement  of  proportions  of  indebtedness  of,            .  110 

power  of  Superior  Court  in  premises,            .            .  Ill 

duties  and  powers,         .            .            .            .            .  102 

employment  and  payment  of  teachers  by        .            .  102 

enumeration  in,              ...                        .  171,  177 

expenses  to  be  paid  by  town,    .  .  .  .191,  192 

first  meeting,  how  called,         ....  50 

formation,  alteration,  and  dissolution,            .            .  100 
notice  of,            .            :  105 
formation,  alteration,  and  dissolution,  appeal  to  Supe- 
rior Court,      .            .  106 
procedure,          .            .  107 

funds  and  property  on  consolidation  or  division,       .  108 

jurisdiction  over,  if  lying  in  several  towns,    .            .  113 

may  establish  kindergarten  schools,     ...  40 

may  take  land  for  site  of  schoolhouse,            .            .  136 

may  require  bond  of  treasurer  and  collector,            .  130 

meetings,            ......  114,  124 

check  list  for  voting  in,        .            .            .  120 

legal  voters  in,           .            .            ...  117 

notice  of,                    .            .            .            .  116 

what  to  specify,     .            .           .  116 

to  form,  alter,  or  unite  districts,  105 

penalty  for  illegal  voting  in,            .            .  123 

special  to  vote  by  ballot,       .            .            .  120,  121 

warning  of ,     .            .            .            .    •  268 

when  held,      ....  114 

where  held,     .....  115 

neglect  to  maintain  school,       ....  132 

receive  no  State  aid  in  such  case,     .            .  132 

officers, 124 

names  to  be  reported  by  clerk  to  school  visitors,       127 

records  of .......  103 

penalty  for  refusing  access  to,           .  131 

boundary  lines,            ....  103 

situated  in  different  towns,  money  how  distributed,  202,  203 


119 

Section 

Districts  —  to  receive  no  State  or  town  money  unless  report 
made  to  school  visitors,   nor  unless    a    suitable 

schoolhouse  provided,           .           .           .           .  133 

union  of  small,  ......  197 

underact  of  1841,           .....  112 

joint,  situated  in  different  towns,        .            .            .  113 

provision  to  be  made  for  scholars  when  no  school,    .  196 

District  committee  — election  of ,     .  .  .  .  .    124,  125 

must  have  a  majority,          .           .           .  126 
duties  of ......    170,  171 

enumeration  of  children  by,            .            .  177 
must  be  resident  of  district,             .           .  124 
names  to  be  reported  to  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation,        .....  94 

in  large  districts,  number  of,           .           .  125 

how  chosen,         .           .  125 

penalty  for  failure  to  call  district  meeting,  170 

term  of  office,            .            .           .           .  124 

in  larger  districts,      .            .  125 

visitation  of  schools  by,       .           .           .  170 

vacancies  filled  by  school  visitors,  .           .  124 

may  call   special   meetings   of   abolished 

districts,      .....  160 

Ecclesiastical  society  —  land  of,  not  to  be  taken  for  site  of  school- 
house,      .....  139 

Employers  —  must  have  certificate  of  attendance,             .            .  23 

Employment  —  of  children  under  fourteen,           ...  18 

fourteen  in  factories  and  stores 

prohibited,    ...  22 

Enumeration  of  children  —  by  district  committee,  .  .    171,177 

in  joint  districts,         .            .            .  171 
by  school  visitor  or  person  appointed 

by  school  visitors,  .            .            .  177 

fees  for,           ....  177 

form  of  return  to  school  visitors,      .  179 

correction  of  return,  .            .            .  181 
certificate  to  Comptroller  by  school 

visitors,        .            .           .            .  181 

Estimate  —  of  cost  of  schools  for  each  year  by  school  visitors 

and  selectmen,      .....  189 

Evening  schools  —  towns  may  establish,     .  .  .  .65,74 

towns  having  ten  thousand  or  more  inhab- 
itants must  establish,            ...  69 
children  not  to  be  employed  in  factories  un- 
less attending  such  schools,              .            .  71 
law  as  to,  how  enforced,           ...  71 
school  visitors  shall  supervise,            .            .        70,  83 
returns  to  Comptroller,             .            .            .72,84 


120 

Section 

Evening  schools  —  length  of  term,  .            .            .            .            .  72,  85 

report  of,            ...                        .  72,  85 

public  money  for,         ....  72 

Evidence  —  of  attendance,  certificate  is,     .            .            .            .  24 

Examination  —  for  entrance  to  Normal  School,     ...  9 

of  teachers  by  school  visitors,       ...  78 

State  Board  of  Education,            .  5 

town  school  committee,    .           .  152 

Excuses  for  non-attendance,            .            .            .            .  18,  19 

Expenses  —  of  teachers'  meetings,  .....  2 

schools  in  consolidated  districts,    .           .            .  168 

in  city  school  districts,             .            .            .            .  194 

of  maintaining  schools,  .  .  .  .191,  192 

estimates  of,      .           .           .            .           .           .  189 

in  excess  of  appropriation,       ....  192 

of  instruction  of  children  in  temporary  homes,        .    206,  207 

Expulsion  of  pupils,             .....  170 

Factories  —  inspection  of  by  school  visitors,          ...  26 

Fees  —  of  assessors  of  taxes,            .....  246 

magistrates  on  prosecution  of  vagrants,            .            .  33 

school  visitors,  for  enumeration  of  children,    .            .  177 

Flag,  exercises  to  be  held,    ......  52 

Flags  —  to  be  provided  by  selectmen,         ....  51 

foreign  not  to  be  displayed,           ....  271 

penalty,         ...  272 

Forfeitures— for  delay  in  making  returns,            ...  91 

making  fraudulent  certificate,    .            .            .  205 

misapplication  of  school  moneys,          .            .  186 

neglect  to  support  schools,         .            .            .  195 

of  clerk  to  furnish  access  to  records,    .  131 

report    names    of    district 

officers  to  school  visitors,  127 
remitted  by  secretary  of  State  Board  of  Educa- 
tion,     ......  204 

by  selectmen  for  failure  to  provide  flags,          .  53 

Form  —  of  return  of  enumeration  by  a  committee,            .            .  179 

school  visitor,         .            .  181 

certificate  of  school  visitors  to  comptroller,    .            .  182 

Funds,  School  —  disposition  of  on  alteration  of  districts,             .  108 

abolition  of  districts,              .  157 

repeal  of  vote  of  abolition,     .  164 

income  of  society  or  district,       .            .            .  188 

town  deposit  fund,     .            .            .  187 

Girls'  Industrial  School  (see  Industrial  School  for  Girls),             .  214 

Graded  schools  —  may  be  established,        ....  102 

Hartford  northwest  district,  .....  page  102 

High  schools  —  town  may  establish,           ....  59 

committee  of ......  60 


121 

Section 

High  schools  —  committee,  how  chosen,      ....  60 

duties  of  school  visitors,    ....  78 

powers  of  school  visitors  over,      .                       .  61 

State  aid  for  library,          .            .            .            .  172 

support  of,  .            .            .            .            .            .  59 

town  not   maintaining  high   school   may  pay 
tuition  fees  of  children  in  non-local  school, 

when,        ......  62 

Incidentals  —  money  raised  to  secure  State  aid  for  library,          .  172 

expended  for  books  for  indigent  pupils,     .  170 

Industrial  School  for  Girls  —  who  may  be  sent  to,            .            .  36,  214 

what  authority  may  commit,         .  214 

Instruction  of  children,        .            .            .            .            .            .  18,  27 

agent  to  secure,      ....  3 

Janitors  —  may  be  appointed  constables  by  selectmen,     .           .  35 

Justice  of  the  Peace  —  prosecution  of  truants  before,       .           .  31 

Kindergarten  schools  —  may  be  established,          ...  40 

who  may  attend,  ....  40 

Libraries  —  penalties  for  injuries  to  books,            .            .            .  242 

school  —  account  of  State  aid  to,         ...  6 

establishment  of,       .            .            .  102 
expenses  incurred    by  districts  reckoned 

among  incidental  expenses,          .            .  172 

selection  of  books  for,          .           .           .  173 

state  aid  to,                            .            .           .  172 

in  consolidated  districts,          .  158 

supervision  of,  by  school  visitors,    .            .  78,  173 

public,    .......  218-242 

Literature  —  penalty  for  buying  obscene,  ....  281 

selling,  etc.,  devoted  wholly  to  criminal  news,       .  282 

Majority  —  to  decide  in  district  meetings,  .           .            .            .  126 

Manchester  —  act  incorporating  Ninth  School  District  of,           .  p.  102 

Manufactories  —  instruction  of  children  employed  in,      .            .  26 

inspection  of,  by  school  visitors,            .            .  26 
Meetings — district  (see  District  Meetings). 

penalty  for  disturbing,             ....  280 

of  teachers,        ......  2 

Minors  —  not  to  loiter  or  play  in  billard  or  pool  rooms,    .            .  274 

Model  primary  schools  —  at  Normal  Schools,        ...  12 

Moderator  —  chosen  in  district  meetings,  .            .            .            .  123 

powers  of,        ......  269,  270 

Music  —  towns  may  direct  school  visitors  to  employ  teacher  of,  44 

Naugatuck,    .            .            .            .            .            .            .  p.  103 

Neglected  Children  (see  Dependent  Children). 

New  Haven,  .            .            .            .            .            .            .  p.  104 

New  London  —  act  amending  charter  of ,    .            .                        .  p.  106 

Normal  School — annual  appropriation,     ....  8 


122 

Section 

Normal  school  —  selection  of  pupils,          .            .            .            .  10 

instruction  gratuitous,    ....  9 

managed  by  State  Board  of  Education,            .  11 

report  and  accounts,       ....  11 

may  have  model  schools,            ...  12 

Norwich,  Falls  district,        .            .            .            .            .  p.  107 

Greeneville  district,         .  .  .  .  .p.  108 

Notice — of  district  meeting,           .            .            .            .            .  116 

proposition  to  form,  alter,  or  unite  school  districts,  105 

Oath— of  clerk,        .......  124 

of  person  enumerating  children,     ....  179 

school  visitors  to  returns,    .            .            .            .            .  181 

may  be  administered  by  school  visitors,    ...  98 

Offenses  —  against  public  property,            ....  242,275 

private  property,           ....  276-279 

peace  and  safety,         .           .           .  280 

the  person,        .            .            .            .  273 

morality,            .....  281 

health  and  safety,          ....  283 

Orange,          ........  p.  110 

Parents  —  duties  of ,.            ......  18 

penalties  for  failure  to  instruct  children,          .            .  18 

Paupers  —  what  may  vote  in  district  meeting,      .            .            .  118 

Penalties  —  for  not  instructing  children  under  one's  care,            .  19 

employment  of  children  under  fourteen,        .  21 

fourteen  in  factories 

and  stores,             .  23 

false  statement  as  to  age  of  children  by  parents,       .  23,  25 

refusal  to  give  name  and  age  of  child,            .            .  180 

delay  in  making  returns,          ....  91 

illegal  voting  at  district  meetings,      .            .            .  123 

refusing  to  accept  school  office  or  perform  its  duties,  124 
failure  to  report  names  of  district  committees  to 

school  visitors,           .....  127 

refusing  access  to  school  records,       .            .            .  131 

failure  to  call  district  meeting,            ...  170 

failure  to  support  schools,       ....  195,  201 

fraudulent  certificate  by  a  school  visitor,      .            .  205 

injuries  to  schoolhouse,            ....  275 

employing  children  in  exhibitions,  etc.,         .            .  273 

permitting  minors  in  pool  room,          .            .            .  274 

interrupting  schools,    .....  279 

showing  or  having  obscene  books,       .            .            .  281,  282 

Physiology  and  Hygiene  —  text-books,       ....  42 

instruction  in,              ...  41 

teachers  must  pass  examination  in,  .  79 

report  as  to  compliance  with  law,     .  93 


123 

Section 

Police  —  may  arrest  truants,  ...  .30 

Police  Court — prosecution  of  truants  before,        ...  31 

Pool-rooms  —  minors  not  permitted  in,      ....  274 

Private  schools  —  attendance  at,     .....  20 

Probate  Courts  —  may  commit  girls  to  Industrial  School,            .  214 

Public  money  —  annual  appropriation  and  distribution,  .            .  177 

how  paid  when  districts  lie  in  several  towns,    .  202 

withheld  if  district  has  no  schoolhouse,              .  133 

district  committee  fail  to  report 

to  school  visitors,              .            .  201 

misapplication  of,  penalty  for,    .            .            .  186 

Pupils — how  admitted  to  Normal  schools,            .           .  9,  10 

disobedient  may  be  suspended  or  expelled,        .           .  170 

poor,  may  have  books  provided,             .           .            .  170 

non-resident,  may  be  admitted  to  school  when,             .  140 

Records  —  of  district  to  be  open  to  inspection,      .            .           .  131 

pertaining  to  schools,  to  be  preserved  and  transmitted,  95 

of  town,  to  contain  district  bounds,     ...  50 

district  bounds,           .....  103 

Reformation  and  care  of  children,  .....  213-217 

Reform  School  —  who  may  be  sent  to,       .            .           .            .  213 

what  authority  may  commit,     .            .            .  218 
Registers  —  for  schools,  form  of,  prescribed  by  State  Board  of 

Education,    ......  2 

kept  by  teachers,         .....  176 

returned  by  teachers,  .            .           .           .           .  176 

Registrars  of  voters — duties  of,      .            .           .            .           .  119 

Registry  lists  —  how  prepared,        .            .            .           .            .  119,  120 

compensation  for  preparing,         .            .            .  122 

Report — to  Governor  by  State  Board  of  Education,        .           .  2 

Secretary  of  State  Board  of  Education,  by  agent,         .  3 

school  visitors,          91 

school  visitors,  by  acting  visitors,           ...  87 

by  district  committees,              .            .  171 

towns,  by  secretary  of  board  of  visitors,            .            .  91 

school  committees,      ....  152 

school  visitors  and  selectmen,            .            .  191 

Returns — to  Comptroller  by  district  boards  of  education,           .  57 

school  visitors,         .  .  .84,  90 

form  of,       .            .  181,  182 
to  be  lodged  with 

town  treasurers,  181 

school  visitors  by  district  committee,    .            .            .  171,  177 

correction  of,      .  181 

what  included  in,  90 

public  money  withheld  if  returns  not  made,      .           .  201 

Revocation  of  teachers'  certificates,            ....  78 


124 

Section 

Salary  of  teachers,  when  to  be  paid,           ....  192 

Scholars  —  admission  of  non-resident,         ....  140 

indigent,  may  be  furnished  with  books,          .            .  89,  170 

returns  of,  between  certain  ages,          ...  SO 

suspension  or  expulsion  of,      .            .            .            .  170 

Schools  —  branches  taught  in,         .            .                        .            .  38 

must  be  maintained,        .....  38 

how  long  annually,            .            .  38 

neglect  of  district  to  keep,         ....  132,  195 

union  of  small,    .  .  .  .  .  .196,  197 

penalty  for  disturbing,                ....  279 

when  discontinued,  provision  for  the  children,           .  196 

visitation  of,        ......  87 

by  committee,        ....  170 

kindergarten,       ......  40 

evening,   .            .            .            .            .            .            .  65,  69 

School  books  —  (see  Textbooks). 

School  committees,  .......  149,  152 

School  fund, —  constitutional  provision  for,           .            .            .  p.  1 

distribution  of  income  of ,  .           .           .           .  182 

to  districts  lying  in  two 

or  more  towns,           .  202 
to  towns  forming  single 

districts,         .            .  169,  182 
to  districts  formed  from 

societies,         .            .  58 

Schoolhouse — authority  of  districts  as  to,             .            .            .  102 

is  a  public  building,             ....  267 

change  of  site  of,                  .            .            .            .  135 

disposition  of  on  division  oi'  district,          .            .  109 

fixing  site  for,           .            .            .            .            .  135 

must  be  kept  to  satisfaction  of  school  visitors,     .  133 

penalty  for  injuring,            ....  275 

entering,            ....  276,  277 

plans  must  be  approved  by  school  visitors,           .  134 

support  withdrawn  from  districts  having  none,  .  133 

taking  land  for  site,            .            .            .        136,  137,  138 

use  of,  out  of  school  hours  decided  by  district,    .  141 

to  be  provided  with  safe  exits,       .            .            .  283 

to  be  kept  clean  and  wholesome,    .            .            .  208 

to  be  well  ventilated,           ....  209 

School  societies — (see  Societies,  School). 
School  visitors — (see  Visitors,  School). 

School  year  —  begins  July  15  —  ends  July  14,       .            .            .  190 

length  of  term  in  weeks,     ....  38 

Secretary  of  the  board  of  visitors  —  elected  annually,      .            .  7-8 

duties  of,                   .            .  91 


125 

Section 

Secretary  of  the  board  of  visitors  —  compensation  of,      .  .  9$ 

penalty  for  failure  to  make 

returns,        ...  91 

Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  —  duties  and  powers,  1 

Selectmen  —  duties  and  powers,      ....         50  and  note. 

Selectmen  —  to  draw  order  on  treasurer  for  payment  of  bills  for 
text-books  bought  by  acting  visitor  for  indigent 
children,       .  .  ....  89 

Sheriffs  —  may  arrest  truants,          .....  30 

Site  for  schoolhouse  —  fixing,          .....  135 

appeal  to  Superior  Court,  .  .   137,  138 

taking  land  for,      ....    136,  167 

land  of  ecclesiastical  society  not  to  be 
taken  for,  .  .  .  .  13& 

Small  schools,  discontinuance  of,    .  .  .  ...   196,  197 

Societies,  ecclesiastical  —  land  of,  may  not  be  taken  for  site  of 

schoolhouse,       .......  139 

Societies,  school  —  organized  under  the  act  of  1855,   become 

school  districts,         ....  54 

choose  board  of  education,      .  ...  54 

duties  of,  .....  57 

election  of,        .....  55 

duties  and  powers  of  districts  so  organized,  .  54 

apportionment  of  public  money  to,     .  .  58 

Superintendent  of  schools  —  appointment  of ,        .  .  .  88 

compensation  of,  .  .  88 

Superior  Court  —  appeal  to,  from  proceedings  relating  to  forma- 
tion, etc.,  of  school  districts,  .  .  104 
proceedings  to  take  land  for  sites  of  school- 
houses,              .....  137 

proceedings  in  case  of  consolidation  of  joint 
districts,  .....  156 

Support  of  schools,    .......  177 

high  schools,      .....  59 

evening  schools,  .  .  .  72,  84 

Suspension  of  pupils,  ......  170 

Taxes  — collectors  of,  .  .  .  .134,  129,  130,  252 

districts  may  levy,  ......  102 

by  city  districts,      ...  .  194 

assessors,      ...  .  .    245,  249 

school  districts,       ......  102 

on  what  assessment  list  laid,       .  .  250 

mode  of  assessment,        .  .  .   245,  249 

of  real  estate  ly- 
ing partly  in 
and  partly  out 
of  a  district,  .  245 


126 

Section 

Taxes  —  school  districts,  delinquent,            ....  254 

omitted  from  town  list,    .            .            . .  247 

clerical  omissions  corrected,       .            .  251 

owned  by  town,  ....  244 

board  of  relief,     ....  246 

form  of  warrant,  .            .            .            .  257 

deductions  for  indebtedness,       .            .  246 

when  due,             ....  255 

change   of    title   after   completion    of 

grand  list,          ....  248 

methods  for  collection,    .            .            .  256 

interest  on  delinquent,     .            .            .  254 

abolished  districts,  ...  161 

selectmen  shall  collect,          .           .  162 

towns  for  high  schools,      .....  59 

equalization  in  consolidated  districts,        .            .  154 

Teachers  — certificates  of,    .           .           .            .           .  78,  79 

necessary  to  employment,        .            .  175 

revocation,          ....  78 

duty  to  keep  registers,                .            .            .            .  176 

obtain  certificates,         .            .            .            .  175 

employment  of,  by  school  visitors,        .            .            .  43,  78 

district  committees,            .            .  170 

districts,       ....  43 

board  of  education,            .            .  54 

town  committee,      .            .            .  152 

high  school  committee,      .            .  60 

dismissal  of,  by  town  committee,         .            .            .  152 

wages  of,  how  paid,        .            .            .            .            .  193 

wages,  when  to  be  paid,  ....   192,  193 

examination  of,   .  .  .  .  .  54,  78,  152,  175 

State  Board  of  Education,       .            .  5 

trained  in  Normal  School,       .            .  8 

not  to  be  school  visitors,           ....  77 

Teachers'  meetings,  .......  2 

Temporary  homes  —  instruction  of  children  in,  to  be  paid  for 

by  county,  .....   206,  207 

who  may  be  committed  to  them,      .            .  215 
enumeration  of  children  in,             .            .      13,  178 
County     Commissioners     may     establish 

schools  in,            .  14 
may  employ  and  pay 

teachers,  .            .  15 
Term  of  school  —  notice  by  district  committee  to  secretary  of 

school  visitors,           ....  177 

Term  of  office  —  of  district  committees,     ....  124 

in  larger  districts,           .  125 


127 

Section 

Term  of  office  —  of  town  committees,        .            .            .  148 

members  of  State  Board  of  Education,         .  1 

school  visitors,              ....  75 

Text-books  —  change  of ,                  .            .            .           .           .  2,  80 

on  physiology  and  hygiene,              .            .            .  41,  43 

towns  may  purchase  for  free  distribution,              .  45 

committee  must  supply  indigent  scholars,              .  170 

supplementary  reading  may  be  prescribed,            .  81 
to  be  furnished  to  indigent  children  by  acting 

visitor,         .            .            .            .            .            .  89 

Tie  vote — how  decided,       ......  269 

Town  clerk,  to  certify  election  of  schpol  visitors  to  Secretary  of 

State,     .......  48 

Towns  —  consolidation  of  districts  of,        ....  142 

districts  lying  in  different,  jurisdiction  over,    .            .  113 

expenses  of,            .           .  202 

may  abolish  school  districts,        ....  142 

vote  how  taken,    .            .  143 

elect  school  committee,        ....  146 

manner  of  election,           .  146 

succeed  to  funds  and  obligations  of  districts,       .  154 
extend  time  of  paying  equal- 
ization tax,            .            .  155 
repeal  of  vote  of  abolition,  163 
direct  that  teachers  may  be  employed  by  school 
visitors,      ......  43 

direct  that  teachers  of  music  be  employed  by 

school  visitors,      .....  44 

establish  high  schools,         ....  59 

and  choose  committee  therefor,  60 

evening  schools,    ....  65,  69 

form,  alter,  unite,  and  dissolve  school  districts,  .  100 

make  regulations  concerning  truants,        .            .  28 

appoint  truant  officers,        ....  29 

take  land  for  school  purposes,        .            .           .  167 

elect  treasurer  of  permanent  school  funds,           .  49 

maintain  schools,     .....  38 

pay  expenses  of  district  schools,     .  .  .38,  192 

exception  if  city 

in  town  limits,  194 

payment  of  public  money  to  consolidated,           .  169 

to  pay  high  school  tuition  fee,  when,        .            .  62 
to  be  reimbursed  by  State  in  part  for  high  school 

tuition  fee,            .....  63 

Transportation  of  children,  .....    198,  199 

Treasurer,  school  district,  election  of,                    .            .            .  124 

to  give  bonds,     ......  130 


128 

Section 

Treasurer,  duties  of,             .           .           .           .           .           .  129 

town  school  funds,         .....  49 

town  deposit  fund,        .                        ...  47 

Truants  —  may  be  arrested  without  warrant,        ...  30 

committed  to  Connecticut  School  for  Boys,  .  31 

prosecution  of,     .            .            .            .            .            .  30-34 

town  regulations  and  by-laws  concerning,        .            .  28 
Tuition  at  Normal  School  gratuitous,         .                                    .9 

Union  districts  —  under  act  of  1841,            .            .            .  112 

Union  of  small  districts,       ......  196 

scholars  to  be  provided  for,        .            .  196 

Vacancies  — in  district  committees,  how  filled,     ...  128 

board  of  school  visitors,     ....  75 

Vaccination,  ........  82 

may  be  paid  for  by  the  town  in  some  cases,             .  82 

Vagrants,  regulations  and  by-laws  concerning,     ...  28 

Ventilation,    ........  209 

Visitors,  school  —  duties  and  powers,        ...  78 
duty  to  approve  plans  for  schoolhouses,         .  78 
fix  sites  for  echoolhouses,        .            .  78 
examine  teachers,         ...  78 
of  high  schools,      .  61 
sign  teachers'  certificates,        .            .  175 
give  certificates  to  teachers,    .           .  78 
of  high  schools,  61 
revoke  teachers'  certificates,    .           .  78 
of  high  schools,  61 
fill  vacancies  in  office  of  district  com- 
mittee,           ....  78 

inspect  factories,          .            ...  26 

employ  teachers  when  authorized,     .  43,  78 
of  music,       .            .  44 
make  arrangements  for  children  to 
attend  school    when    there    is    no 
school  in  their  district,         .            .  196 
to  superintend  evening  schools,          .  70,  83 
report  concerning,        .            .            .72,  85 
approve  of  the  union  of  small  schools,            .  196 
duty  to  make  returns  of  enumeration  to  Comp- 
troller,             ....  90 

report  to  town,   ....  91 

purchase  text-books  for  free  distribu- 
tion if  so  directed,      ...  45 
may  admit  to  school  children  under 
five,      .....  39 

appoint  acting  visitor  (see  Acting  Visi- 
tors),    ,  87 


129 

Section 

Visitors,  school  — duty  to  give  certificate  to  Comptroller  that 
schools  have  been    kept  according 
to  law,  .  .  .  .  182 

certify    to     Comptroller     concerning 

evening  schools,          .  .  .72,  85 

give    certificate     to     selectmen     that 
schools  have  been    kept  according 
to  law,  ....  192 

report  names  of  teachers  and  district 
committees  to  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, ....  94 

make  estimate  to    towns  of    cost  of 
schools,  ....    189,  191 

make  complaint   to  board  of    health 
when  sanitary  condition  of  school 
house  is  unsatisfactory,          .  .  210 

regulate  libraries,  .  .          78,  173,  174 

superintend  high  schools,          .  .  78 

evening  schools,  .  .  .        70,  83 

may  appoint  acting  visitor  not  of  their 

number,  ....  88 

may  give  written  consent   to    attend- 
ance in  non-local  high  school,  .  62 
officers,        ......  78 

compensation,         .....  97 

classes,         ......  75 

election,       .  .  .  .  .  46,  47 

manner  of  election,  ....  76 

election  to  be  certified  to  Secretary  of  State,      .  48 

number,       ......  75 

meetings,  how  called,        ....  86 

organization,  .....  78 

•  secretary,  duties  of,  ....  91 

joint  duties  with  selectmen,          .  174,189,191,202 

penalty  for  fraudulent  certificate  of,        .  .  205 

power  to  administer  oath,  ...  98 

admit  non-resident  pupils,         .  .  140 

change 'sites  of  schoolhouses  in  cer- 
tain cases,        ....  135 

open  schools  in  districts  neglecting  to 
keep  one,         ....  132 

duty  to  require  vaccination  of  children, 

change  text-books,  ...  80 

prescribe  supplementary  reading, 
powers  superseded  in  districts  having  board  of 

education,  .  .57 

school  committee  to  be  board  of  visitors  if  union 
system  is  abandoned,     .  .  .  •  166 


130 

Section 

Voters,  legal  — in  district  meetings,            .            .            .  117,118 

list  of,  how  made  out,        ...  119 

Votes,  what  to  be  on  each  ballot,    .....  260 

to  be  placed  in  one  envelope,           ....  261 

Wages  of  teachers  —  paid  by  districts,        ....  102 

when  payable,           .            .            .  192,  193 

certificate  necessary  to,         .  175 

Warning  of  district  meeting  —  how  given,             .            .            .  116 

what  to  specify,    .            .            .  146,  268 

Warrant  for  collection  of  taxes  —  form  of,            ...  257 

Waterbury  —  incorporation  of  Centre  District  of,             .            .  p.  110 

Women  —  are  eligible  to  certain  offices,     ....  262 

may  vote  for  school  officers,      .                                    .  263 

registration  of,     ...                        .  264 

separate  voting  lists,       .....  265 

.   "  women's  ballots,"         .....  266 

names  to  be  put  on  list  "to  be  made,"             .            .  264 

to  qualify  in  same  manner  as  men,        .                        .  264 

to  have  separate  ballot-box,                    .            .            .  266 

Yale  College  —  constitutional  provisions  for         .  .  sec.  1,  p.  1 

Year,  school,              ...  190 

length  of ,  .  .38 


UDDIU 


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